Bisbee daily review., 1919-11-06
IF STATEMENT BY
 GOMPERS MADE
Coal Operators Deny Emphat- ically That They Left Meet ing Called by Secy. Wilson
 to Settle Strike Trouble

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5.-Denial of Samuel Gompers' statement that rep resentatives of the operators left the meeting called by Secretary Wilson for the purpose of trying to settle the coal strike, was made tonight by the executive committee of the bitumin- cuscoal operators of the central com petitive fields. The operators ex- pressed willingness to present all facts to any tribunal that might be named by the government.
 "A careful examination of Samuel Gompers' announcement" sard the operators statement, discloses the ab- sepce of single accurate statement of facts. In that respect his pro- nouncement is identical with the statement he put out last week. in which he charged coal operators with curtailing production to boost prices "a statement which even Acting President Lewis of the miners organ ization, emphatically repudiated
 "In his latest statement MT. Com pers goes lightly from one fnaccuracy to another. He mis-srates working conditions, miners advances and op- orators selling prices.
 ''tI is not true that the operators representatives walked out of Secre- tary Wilson's conference, leaving MT. Lewis with no alternative but to call strike. The operators representa- lives accepted President Wilson's pro- posal in it's entirety and withdrew from the conference in order that their presence might not embarrass Secretary Wilson in his effort to per suade the miners to take the honor able course thus opened to them. The operators advised Secretary Wilson that thef would remain in Washing. ton, awaiting his call to further con- ference.
 Tt is not true, as MT. oGmpers im- plies, that the miners are not permit ted by the operators to work full time. hTe operators have no control over the demand for coal. They can merely stand ready to produce and furnish it when the public requires an dis willing to accept it.
 "It is not true that the miners re- ceived an advance of 2Oc a ton in 1914
 ''It is not true that the operators raised the price of coal $5 a ton in 1914. On the contrary, the price was reduced.
 Tt is not true. as MT. Gompers states, that for the past several years the miners have averaged only 16O to 1SO working days a year.
 Tt is fact, however - and Mir. Gompers could easily have ascertain ed it-that virtually every bituminous mine in the country has on it's payroll a substantial number of men who de- liberately lay off from one to three days a week when they have an op-. portunity to work.
 MT. oGmpers states that the min CTS are demanding shorter working hours so that their work may be made regular instead of intermittent. How is it possible to effect such regula- tion? How can mines be worked when no cars are aavilable? How can mines be worked on days when mine sidfngs and railroad yards are block ed with loaded cars which the publn does not need and will not buy?
 Does Mir. Gompers think that change from an eight hour day to six hour day will compel the public to buy its coal far in advance of its at tremendous advanced prices, made necessary by increased pa yfor less work on the part of the 
 "The statement issued by MT. Com pers, the American Federation of La bor and officials of the United Mine Workers of America, with respect to hours of work and earnings of min CTS, have been grossly inaccurate, misrepresentative and misleading to the public"