The sun., 1919-11-05

would undertake to arbitrate q: "a settle
the strike. II within fifteen bays no
settlement has been made thrtu ugh me-
diation the commission should investi-
gate and make q report, setting forth
the terms on which, In Its judgment.
settlement should be reached, indicating
the concessions each side should make.
This report should be published and
must be made within fifteen days arter
the beginning Of The inquiry.
No provision is made for forcing the
conflicting sides to accept the terms laid
down In the report. The purpose 10 to
make an appeal to public sentiment In
the hope that II would be strong enough
to compel the settlement by this non
partisan commission.
The coal operators, while staunchly
intrenched in their position and con-
fident of the ultimate collapse OF the
coal strike. are not disposed to look for
an early settlement. They reckon that
In the present contest they are dealing
with the strongest union In all organ
ised labor. They feel that to permit an
undue optimism to pervade the public
mind at this juncture Is unfair and un-
wise, although satisfied that In the end
the strikers will come to terms and that
q moro permanent readjustment OF the
relations between operators and miners
will be the outgrowth OF the clash.
So far as the actual production of
coal under the present conditions Is con-
cerned. the National Coal Association
authorities are not prepared to make
anything like a close estimate. Certain
Of tho active operators insist that 4,0o0,-
COO tons Of soft coal a week can be
produced by the working mines in the
various bituminous fields with the pres
erit force and the slow accretion of dis
satisfied unionist miners who already
are going to work in the un-union fields.
Cfficers Of the association arc disposed
to be more temperate in the claims but
tho general view is that the going mines
can produce more than 100000 tons
every six working days.
The weekly production in bituminous
fields with normal labor conditions main
tained is about 1000, 900 TONS 80 that
the present rate Of production is approx
imately between one-quarter and one
third Of the normal output.
The National Coal Association found II
necessary to denounce statements made
in a circular letter made public October
81 by President w. A. Marshall Of the
Wholesale Coal Trade Association Of New
York, in which 1t had been stated that
| the Association was opposed to the re-
| sumption of control of prices and dis
tiiOuNoh Ny auaioiitys
N. v. Coal Dealers Not Upheld.
The denunciation took the form of a
letter from Vice-Presinet Morrow of the
| association to Attorney General Palmer.
and which read:
| MY attention has been called to a cir
cular letter of October 81. 1919. signed
by w. A. Marshall, president of the
Wholesale Coal Trade Association OF
New York, objecting to the control OF
bituminous coal prices and distribution
by Governmental authority. copy OF
which was sent to you.
ION behalf of the National Coal As.
ISOLATION. wish to advise you that Mr.
Marshall is not authorized to speak fol
this association. So far as know, he II
not authorized to speak for the bitumin
Gus coal producers Of the country. TIC
the best OF my knowledge the bitumin
Gus coal operators are not in sympath,
with, the sentiments expressed in Mr.
Marshall's letter, but are entirely Willing
and ready to conform fully to any pro
gramme Of the Government which 4
deemed necessary to protect the public II
the present situation"
The disposition OF the non-union mel
in the free fields Of the Pocahontas an,
adjacent regions Is adverse to the strik
ers. They assert that the demands o