Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-10-21
AARDINC PLAN
NOT FEASIBLE
MINERS SAY DISTRICTS CAN NOT
ARBlrRATE WAGE AGREE.
MENTs SEPARATELY.
MUST HAVE SANCTION
OF NATIONAL UNION,
Iowa Governor Has Not Yet Heard
From Governors Of Adjaosnt States
TO Whom Hs> Addressed Call For
Conference in Hope Of Avsrtins
Strike in Mines Of Middle West.

| ~ W "sN0tS vv9Wts
Des Moines, Oct. 81. Governor
Harding has not yet heard from gov
errors in the coal producing states Of
the union on the matter of their join
ing together in an effort to secure an
arbitration Of the matters in dispute
between the coal miners and coal OPP
orators. The governor has suggested
a conference of governors to be held
probably In Chicago for the discussion
OF plans to avoid the strike.
The question Of calling the confer
ence should be left to the state or
states where coal production is heavi-
est the Iowa governor says. The con-
ference Of governors held in Chicago
IN July. 1917, where increased produc-
| ton Of coal was planned to meet war
needs was productive Of results and
the Iowa governor can see no reason
why the chief executives Of all Of the
states in which coal is produced In any
quantities could not find a way to avoid
the threatened strike. In his opinion
they might effect arbitration.
The governor has also forwarded a
Joint letter to ]. C. Lewis, president Of
the United Mine Workers Of America
in district IS, the Iowa Missouri dis
trict. and D. c, Gushing, president Of
the Iowa Coal Operators Association,
in which he calls attention to, the Iowa
statute providing for arbitration Of la
Dor disputes. Labor officers here, how
ever. say that district officers can not
negotiate a settlement by districts. but
that they are bound by the action of
the national organization.
Hardins's Letter.
In his letter to the heads Of the-two
interests affected. Governor Harding
says:
IT am informed that because of fall
and mine owners to reach an agree
ment as to a wage scale and other con-
troverted matters a strike of the mine
workers inN this state will take place
about Nov. /, 1919.
"a strike at this time OF the year,
in the coal mining industry should by
all means be averted If humanity pos
sible. Every man, woman and child
in the state will be affected by such q
strike and IN such a. way that they
can not help themselves.
II am reliably informed that therr
is not more than weeks supply Of
coal on hand in the state at the present
time. nor can there be by Nov. l, 1919.
A shut down of the mines in this state
means the stopping Of practically all
industry, which In itself is serious, but
more than this and more vital, schools,
hospitals and homes will be without
fuel. Children and aged people, both
helpless, will be face to face with the
bitter pangs Of cold. Such condition.
I am sure, Is not Contemplated with
pleasure by either side. In fact, ar,
satisfied In my own mind that neither
party to the controversy desires this
condition to maintain.
with a view, therefore, to averting
the pending strike, I am calling your
attention and that OF the public to an
Iowa statute prepared for just such
an emergency and am hereby tender
ing the assistance of the office Of the
governor Of the state to. carry out the
arbitration therein provided.
Cite State Law.
'sChapter S-B. title XII of the code.
beginning with section 2IT-n. pro-
vides as follows, The governor shall
at once, upon application made to him
as herein provided, notify the parties
to the dispute OF the application for
the appointment of board OF arbi-
tration and Cancellation. and make re-
quest upon each party to. the dispute
that each Of them recommend the
names Of Ave persons who have mo
direct interest in such dispute and are
willing and ready to act as members
Of the board and the governor shall APP
point from each list submitted one of
such persons recommended. The mem
bers Of the board SO appointed shall
recommend to the governor the name
>of one person who is ready and willing
to act
'In this way an arbitration board Is
established. Both sides to the con-
troversy should agree to be bound by
the arbitration and production Of coal
could proceed without Interruption.
Such a method as herein is proposed
furnishes opportunity for both sides to
present their case to a fair and i'm
partial board under rules that are
established and recognized as fair. 1
"Ultipately some method similar to
the one proposed will have TO be fol-
lowed for the contest between the
mine owner and the mine worker can
not continue beyond a given period. ]
deem this pending strike OF SO great
public importance that It can not be
lightly passed over and urge in all
sincerity and earnestness that steps be
at once taken by both parties to sub
nit the whole matter to arbitration
and OFFER this legal and orderly method
provided by the statute OF Iowa
Iowa Committees Named.
Az the meeting OF delegates from the
various locals in the mine workers
union In this district two committee
men ana two alternates from each OF
the four suba:s:r.c:s % district -
were chosen. The eight comTittes-
men and seven members Of the exscu-
|stive board Of the district crSani.A4ion
win compose the new scale committSe.
In case an agreement 10 reached BE-
tween the national organisations. tne
scale committee will meet with IKE
Committee representing the operators
ana d,x the scale for this district.
The members Of the executive board
Fare: ]. G. Lewis, Des MoineG preSi-
dent Of the district: jos Morris, Abba,
wee president; John Gay. AbiA sec
rotary: James ASgneson, Centesvillei
Is. 81. WATKINS, Abba: Thomas Nc
lCully, Das Iloines: Thomas Dalsberry,