The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-22
Coal Consumers Paying for
Walkout Not Yet enjoyed"
Miners Leaders Make Charge
Against the Producers.
TRY AGAIN TO AVERT STRIKE
Both Sides as Far Apart as
Ever Today.
Secretary Wilson Hopeful of
Success of Negotiations.

On1CaBOs Oct- ZZ.-(Oal consumers
are paying now for a strike which
they haven't begun to enjoy" as yet.
according to leaders among the coal
miners.
Investigation in central states-the
soft coal states-showed prices have
advanced in some cities since the
miners strike call was issued. In
others there had been no change.
A statement by United Mine Work
ers in Indianapolis said the consumer
Is forced in some cases to pay 81 more
per ton now than week ago, and
that the advance is without justifica-
ton. Miners, themselves, were hit by
the advances. officials of the union
said.
In Chicago some dealers advanced
prices slightly-four to eight cents per
ton. Some of the larger dealers said
there was no excuse for an increase
now. Chicago has thirty-day supply
of soft coal, they said and individual
coal bins turnout the city are unusual
ly well filled. A coal shortage last
year was a great educator toward
early buying this season, they said.
! At Vincennes. Ind, prices advanced
81 per ton, it was stated today. Other
Indiana cities faced a 50-cent increase.
In Milwaukee an automatic raise
July l was the only one hitting the
consumer. The Twin Cities reported
slight advances.
Iowa operators, dealers said today,
boosted prices SO cents to them, max
ing it necessary to demand rs cents
more from the consumer. The aver
age retail price of soft coal in Des
Moines now is 81 per ton.
Try to Avert Strike Again.
Washington, Oct. 22.-Coal miners
and operators today went into the
second day of their conference here
apparently as far apart as ever on
wages and. hours.
| Despite surface indications that
neither side is willing to compromise.
Secretary Wilson and other officials
who hope to avert a soft coal strike.
called for November /, were encour-
aged by two phases of the conference
thus far developed. ~
| The first is that neither the miners
nor operators have shown any real
disposition to bring about break II,
| the negotiations. While both went
| into the meeting yesterday declaring
they would not change their position
and indicating there was no hope of
compromise, both have shown them
selves willing to talk things over.
| The second encouraging phase is the
comparative silence of both miners
and operators leaders, who, two days
ago, were issuing statements charging
each other with profiteering and con-
tract breaking.
| Secretary Wilson, who is presiding
at the meeting, has SO far presented
no compromise program of his own.
Following adjournment of the con-
ference late yesterday, operators met
at the headquarters of the National
Coal association here to lay out a plan
of action for today's meeting.
| While the miners and operators
\ were meeting this morning it was
learned at the White House that the
government has considered the posi-
bility of operating the mines il neces-
sary to prevent suffering and democrat
ization of industry by strike. The
government would take this step only
as a last resort. This. it was under
stood, was discussed at the last cab
| met meeting.
| Secretary Wilson was closeted with
coal operators nearly two hours today
after miners were excused from the
conference.
Wilson was to meet with miners
| delegates alone at 2:30 after which
| he expected to reconvene the joint
session.
! Wilson, it was understood. appealed
| to the operators to modify their stand
! that miners might rescind their strike
order, recognize existing contracts
and consent to negotiate on the basis
| of an eight-hour day.
/ A similar plea for modification will
| be made to the miners this afternoon.
Before the miners were temporar-
| lily excused from the conference, John
Lewis, acting head of the United Mine
| Workers, told Wilson that he felt that
nothing, unless the operators would
abandon their three reservations"
Lewis also declared the position of
| the miners was unchanged