El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-12-20

Palmer Stands EAruls
Washington. D. c. Dec. 20-Attor-
investl CATION committee Friday a tull
story OF his own and the general gov
I ernment's action in connection with
the strike OF bituminous coal miners,
concluding his testimony with the
declaration that the firm, strong
hand OF the government" finally had
forced the miners 20 yield
Alfred Il Ogle, chairman OF the
] executive committee Of the BTU
minous Coal Operators association,
told the committee that Mr.. Palmer
/ endeaYored on FRIDAY. Dec 3, 10 in
duce the operators 10 compromise
! with the miners on a basis Of more
Z than the "A percent wage increase
suggested in behalf Of the govern
ment by former fuel administrator
] Garfield.
r Continuing, Ogle surprised the COM
] mittee with the assertion that Mr..
4 Palmer had told the operators, fed
I eral Judge Anderson at Indianapolis,
who issued an Injunction against the
! strike leaders on the governmenrs
I application. might act in a charac-
/ teristic fashion, and put a lot OF
union leaders ln Jail" thus preclpltat-
Z ing a terrible industrial situation"
sfFTe replied said Ogle. shat
we Considered the proposal
coWardly, dnstnrdly surrender OF
the rights Of the public and the
government. We consider a COM
promise OF principles far more
important than any question Of
the wages Of miners, or eur own
profits rs operators OF coal mines.
We thought IL n question OF the
maintenance OF law and order in
the United StuteH.1
The operators chairman refused 20
divulge details when first put on the
stand, but finally told his story after
getting permission 10 consult his at
tOrneys Rush Butler, who was also
called as witness
Dr.. Garfields plan OF settlement IN
the nationwide coal strike Was re-
garded as closing the door TO hope OK
further increase by striking miners, ]
according 20 a circular read by SEN I
ator Townsend during the senate in !
Vesugatlon Of the strike. The gov
eminent plan was held as offering a ]
bright prospect for Increase"
Senator Erelnghuyse read a tran
script Of DR.. Garfields testimony be- |
fore the committee. in which the for /
mer fuel administrator said the plan |
adopted differed Fundamentally from /
the one he proposed.
I've never been able 10 see any
difference Mr.. Palmer said. except /
that Dr.. Garfield calls his commits /
sion a consultative body ana our i
agreement calls IL a commission"
By what authority could your COM
mission fix Wagest senator Town /
send asked
Wages Fixed by Agreement.
"Only by agreement, operators and 1
miners agreeing 70 follow the COM /
missions findings IN a new wage .
agreement" Mr.. Palmer said.
This commission has no power 20 /
make wage contract which you can 4
enfOrceZ" senator Townsend asked.
Mr. Palmer acquiesced-
Senator Townsend read newspaper /
reports OF statements made by Alex !
ander Howat, president Of the KAN /
sas district union 20 the effect that I
eminent 20 Lewis and Green under I
which the miners would get more I
than a 81 percent Increase
i want 20 know II you ever offered /
any iuducement TO the union officials /
for a settlement Of the strike, which 4
agreement" he said
Absolutely none" Mr.. Palmer re- /
turned.
Nothing was said as 20 the men |
who were going on the commission ]
created under itt' senator Townsend !
Nothing except they were 10 be
the biggest and hroadest men we !
could get" Mr.. Palmer replied He
added that he had no idea who would Z
be named on the commission.
Palmer Denies Pending Agreement.
Mr.. Palmer said IN reply 20 ques-
lions that he had teieEraphed the
president from indianapolis nothing
but the text OF the memorandum OF
agreement
rs everything included In that
memorandum" senator Townsend
asked. which Lewis and Green ex-
pected TO benefit the miners in this
settlement"
"Of course don't know what they
expect" lIr. Palmer said, but every
thing Is there that the government
has agreed to-"
Replying 70 a question by senator
Townsend as 20 whether amy induce
ment" had been offered union Off
Gals which was not named in the
memorandum OF the settlement agree
ment, Mr. Palmer continued.
Absolutely none" He added that
nothing had been said as 10 the men
TO constitute the commission except
that they we're 70 be "the biggest
and broadest men we could get"
INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE
sUSPENDS TILL JANUARY
Washington, ID. c.. Dec. 20.-Presi-