Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-14
ADOPTION OF WAGE
| SCALE IS PRIMARY
OBJECT OF SESSION
Both Factions Hope for
Final Termination of
Paralyzing Strike.
NINE OWNERS DECLARED
IN CONClLIATORY MOOD
Will Not Insist on Stand Taken
That War Is Not
Over.
G y FIELD WILL ATTEND
Speculation Is Rife That He Will
Make Effort to Exercise His
Authority.
G y r FIELD WILL ATTEND
Is Rife That He Will
Make Effort to Exercise His
Authority.
IBv Associated prns.1


WASHINGTON. Nov 13-Coa1 minnrs
ana operators from the nations bitun,t-
nous fields will enter into negotiations
mere tomorrow for Il new wage agree
meht, with the question OF the time
or termination OF the Washington wage
agreement of 1915 apparently as the
chief stumblingblock
Both miners and operators on the
! eve of the conference at which tho
| points in dispute in the recent striko
are expected TO be settled. were hone
ful' however. as to the outcome, and
expressed the belief that the question
of when the Washington agreement
terminated could be disposed OF through
| mutual agreement along with the de-
! mands OF the miners for Go per cent
increase in pay and shorter hours.
announcement by the executive com
Hlttee or the operators OF the central
competitive field, in a formal statement
tonight, that the Washington agreement
Is one OF the matters TO be deter
gssnsraiiy ss no, D,s to mean that the opsrators
remain in effect during seh the dnraaias S9nfais,s
OF the war" or until March 81, 1920, in
! points.
Statement Disclaims Message.
The statement disclaimed that the
| !. l.
of the Coal Operators Association in
the central competitsvc fields inviting
the miners to "a conference ito nego-
tiate contract TO be in force upon
| the termination of the contract now in
effect, was an attempt to "entrap tho
miners into tacit acknow ledg tnent'
! or the binding force Of the contracts,
and pointed out that the text of the
telegram was almost Identical with
| ference.
Il was said by those in close touch
with the situation that the operators
were going into the conference tomor-
row in conciliatory spirit, and would
not insist on the Interpretation tina.
the war is not over, although their
stand has been supported by the pro-
nouncement of the administration and
the mandate Of Federal Judge Ander-
Miners arriving here today for the
| parley attached Significance to the an
son that Fuel Administrator Garfield
had accepted his invitation 10 be pres
snt at the opening of the conference
| field IS to play was given. other than
the statement that It was through his
| ment was negotiated and his presence
was logically TO be expected. There
was speculation as to whether the fuel
| ers. might not be able to exercise his
| authority in a similar manner on this
| occasion.
DIR. Garfield to Attend.
DR.. Garfield will not arrive until
| tomorrow morning. but at The fuel a l.
| r,i!n .stration Offices here It was said
asked as 70 how how much ni''G OF the burl m N
Of increased cost of proiuc' Oh OF toLl.
the public should i, be called upon upon 'D, TO-
| bear
n,;Ids,, Tns Gonfs5snes, :, viii begin At 2se
De partmen, ' OF Labor announced ta" ,n'
night. ow.ng to the, fact chat John T.;
! Mine Workers of America and other
participants Will not arrive until after
northwestern states a number of mine
officials and operators are not expect
ed to arrive before Saturday Or per-
The lirst quSi;' sn to come bef.rc the
son said today that he would recon-
mend that newspaper representatives
In keeping with his recent announce
ment that operators as we'll as miners
coal would be prosecuted Attorney.
Genera Paims1 today sought further
2Ia ao%p hjcS GSompanIGs tbn at E5m
have discharged and turned back men
who were returning to work in com
pliance with the court order OF Judge
Anderson.
Palmer Probes Complaints.
IN ne form,, A,ittorney-Genersrs ito ne reauest for
4 telegram from George i Hargrove, re tSvs'igo in.
nhiied Mine Workers of America at
EirminE ham. who declared that the six
companies were not permitting the
| men TO dig the coal the court requires
Mr., Palmer. replying, said he Would
take prompt action against any OPP
orator who adopts. such methods to
restrict production"
The executive committee OF the coal
operators in the central competitive
neid, in their statement tonight de-
of negotiating a fair wage agreement
ht the earliest moment; but so far have
oeen prevented from doing so because
the miners demands have been com.
pncat,ed with Impossible collateral
Expressing their belief that every
employee should receive as generous
a wage "as the public interest will al
low the operators said that they
thai WoIiq 20 TO- tomorrow,s meeting with
Department of Justice officials were
inclined tonight to view the reported
action OF Illinois miners in driving
caretakers away from mines near Du-
Guoin as violation of the order OF
Judge Anderson to union leaders The
opinion expressed was that intimida. (
fh,a