Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-12-08
MYSTERY CONFERENCE

proposals for settlinfg the coal strike
tonight were cloaked in a veil of
mystery which promised to lift only
at Indianapolis Tuesday when the
federal court and the leaders of the
United Mine Workers alike will be
called upon to consider them.
Attorney General Palmer ana his
special assistant, Judge Ames, were
travelling to Indianapolis tonight on
the same train with John L. Lewis,
acting president. and William Green,
secretary of the United mime Work.
ers' Union. whose secret visit and
equally secret conference yesterday
with Mr.. Palmer and Joseph P. Tu-
multy. secretary to President Will
son. resulted in a provisional agree
nient to settle the strike. Not one of
the participants of the con ference
would discuss it's meaning or intent
In any detail. Before boarding the
train for Indianapolis Mr.. Palmer
however, said he was quite sure that
the end of the strike was in sight. 1t
was learned that he would confer
with Judge Anderson of the federal
district court on reaching Indianap-
oils"
Fuel Administrator Garfield. speak
ing with brevity and emphasis, added
only doubt to the situation.
my position has not peen budged
one inch and will not be- he said.
1t was recalled that yesterday Dr.
Garfield had reiterated that not one
cent could be added to the price of
coal to finance greater wage increas-
es to the miners than the IA per cent.
he suggested, which operators could
pay out of profits and that the gov
ernment was behind him in the
stand. 1t also was pointed out that on
Nov. rs he suggested this basis Of
agreement 10 the miners. with a pro-
viso that an arbitration commission
be appointed by the President to re-
view his decision with power to
change it if the commission should
find economical justification. This
proposal the miners representatives
rejected instantly.
From other authoritive sources,
there was only the attorney generals
statement issued last midnight that
"a definite concrete prosopition from
the President looking to tht speedy
settlement of the strike" had been
taken before Lewis and Green and
that they had agreed to recommend
it to the National board and policy
of
ion. The miners representatives. it
developed today. arrived in Washing.
ton at noon Saturday and were clos
eted until midnight with the attor-
ney general. They went from the
department of justice to the home of
a friend and did not appear until
train time tonight, and would not
talk or add anything to the attorney
generals published version of the
leaders, or whether they came to
Washington Of their own accord was
question left unanswered by all
concerned.
1t was not claimed anywhere that
the step taken guaranteed the cessa-
ton of the coal striek on the part
of organized miners still out. A def
mite silence was maintained officially
on this point. Likewise, the execu-
tive committee of bituminous coal
operators watching the govern
mental activities had no information
which it would divulge tonight.
Gossip was active over the situa-
ton. which has involved almost ex-
elusive attention Of most government
chiefs for two weeks. 1t was said in
labor circles that the Presidents pro-
posal would result in giving the min
ers more than previous government
suggestfono would allow. Other ver-
sions said that practical repetition
of DR.. Garfield's arbitration offer hal
been accepted Professionally by the
mine workers union chiefs.
It was said further that a differ
ence of method in dealing with the
strike had developed among the gov.
ernment agencies chiefly concerned,
though all were working towards :.
settlement. In responsible quarters.
however, only silence or statements
guarded to the utmost were avail
able
Meanwhile DR.. Garfield labored
most Of the day on a multitude of de-
tails Of the great job of trying to
conserve every pound of COAL ON
cials were confident that the coun-
try would weather the emergency
and those who professed to see early
Of the strike on terms
agreed to by the attorney general
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