The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-11-26
ULTIMATUm
TO Be GIVEN
TO COAL MEN?
Garfield Expected to Voice
Governments Stand in
Strike, Late Today-Opera-
tors to Bear All of Increases
DECISION IS REACHED
{By Associated Press)

<hSScNAeNtSu
WASHINGTON, Nov. ga def
mite and final statement on behalf Of
the government in the coal wage con-
troversy will be made to the opera
tors and miners late today by Fuel
Administrator Garfield.
Final decision was reached by the
cabinet at the meeting today, DR..
Garfield and Secretary Wilson said.
F.; The fuel administrator called a joint
conference Of the operators and min
| ers for 5 p. m. to receive the decision.
While neither DR.. Garfield nor mem
bers Of the cabinet would say what
| the cabinets decision was, 1t was re-
ported that the fuel administrator had
won his point of an increase from
| 20 to rs per cent in miners wages,
against the 81 per cent proposed by
Secretary Wilson and agreed to by
the miners.
UItimatum Expected.
| DR.. Garfields statement to the
miners and operators was expected
to be somewhat in the nature of an
ultimatum. The 20 to 25 per cent
increase was understood to be accept
able to the operators, but grave
doubts were expressed as to whether
the miners would approve it.
After the cabinet meeting there was
a somewhat general impression that
the operators would be called upon to
bear practically all Of the proposed
wage increase, but officials withheld
comment
Thus far the position Of the mine
union officials has been that they
could not accept anything less than
the original demands of the Cleveland
convention. so per cent increase in
wages and a 80 hour week. without
the approval of that convention.
-ould they hold to that view. after
meeting, DR.. Garfield said 1t might be
that several weeks would elapse be-
fore a final settlement was reached.
Meantime, SO many miners over the
country had remained on strike that
the coal situation had reached wha:
officials described as National CHS
; is". Steps to meet the situation until
something like normal production had
been restored were under considera-
ton by the fuel Administrations cen
trail coal committee with an order
prohibiting the manufacture of cokn.
designed as the first move in the na-
tion-wide campaign.
ported today by John L. Lewis, act
ing president of the United Mine
workers. who said the calculations OF
wage advances since 1913 should be
based on -ates throughout the coun-
try, and not merely in the central
competitive fields.
Cabinet Splits.
That there was a difference of opfn-
ion among the cabinet members as to
what advances coal mines should re-
ceive appeared certain. though none OF
them were prepared to discuss the
matter. So far, the only definite pro-
posal from governmental sources has
been that made by Secretary of Labor
Wilson last week. for an increase OF
II per cent in the pay of miners over
the scale given them in 1917.
This the operators rejected, profess
sing unwillingness TO accept it with
out a direct authorization from Fuel
Administrator Garfield for the in
, crease in coal prices which they said
would be necessary to sustain the in
crease. 1t was assumed the cabinet
was unwilling as yet to unite upon II =
labor members proposal.
Meanwhile the approach of the
Thanksgiving holiday threatened the
wage scale negotiations with further
delay, since miners and coal operators
representatives threatened to 60 hom =
anu Ue1eT tIlelT meetings. "A ScSslOIl
, of the scale committee in the central
, competitive field. however. was also
set for today where the recess question,
, could be discussed. Coal shortage in
. the middle west continued to increase
, and there was but little increase in
, coal production reported.
INDIANAPOLIS. Nov. c6-Aside
:, from an unconfirmed report that min.
, ers in some sections of the Indiana
coal fields are advocating local agree.
ment with operators for resumption
of work. the situation in this state is
unchanged today. All mines are idle
J and miners apparently are waiting on
the outcome of the conference In
Washington before taking any steps
toward ending the strike.
t Meantime the fuel shortage IN =;
: diana is becoming alarming. At this
: Marion county infirmary here. 1t was
4 hausted today and unless relief IL Sc,
! cured Immediately inmates of the in
! stitution will suffer. Many factories
r over the state have already been
forced to close despite efforts to con.
$ serve coal. Indianapolis stores have
q adopted early closing as a means OF
, saving electric current and fuel used
d in heating, and half-time operation OF
: industrial plants is in effect. Other
4 cities today are considering reduction
: of working time Of factories.
j. CHICAGO, Nov. 26.-Progress today
t Of the national strike of bituminous
e coal miners into the twenty-sixth day
q was without marked developments
l. regarding the situation at the mines
n themselves.
J.. The gradually decreasing fuel sup
ply, however. forced additional shut
ting down Of plants in the middle
z west and in other parts of the coun
try. The regional coal committees
J. requested all industries which could
J. do so without heavy financial loss ts
r close from this evening until Mondal
S morning.
e Production of West Virginia toda,
} held up to the standard maintained
8 since the strike went into effect viii
Continued on Page Ten.)