South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-12-23
CLAIMS SECRET
COAL AGREEMENT
Sen. FTeIinghuySen of InveSti-
cation Committee Gives
Views on Situation.

A'f 4Ao''FNlaAfl r Ataa
WASHINGTON. Dec. 22.-Enter-
ing into the controversy raging
about the governments proposals
for settlement Of the coal strike.
Sen. Frelinghuysen. republican. oil
New Jersey, chairman Of the senate
committee investigating the coal sit
uation, in formal statement Mon
day night declared that in the gov
ernment's negotiations there must
have been some sort Of a secret deal
made in addition TO the signed
statement"
Explaining that he spoke for him
self only and not for other mem
bers Of his committee, Sen. Freling-
huysen reviewed the testimony ad
.duced by the committee hearings 20 \
date and added that out of the set
tlemeDt OF the strike 'in any event
the pUolic may look for an in
crease I'm the price of coal or an
other strike"
LOADED Dice"
The New Jersey senator charac-
as put forth by Atty. Cen. Palmer
and accepted by the miners cas-
loaded dice for the American pub
lie"
The executive committee Of coal
mine operators. following their
statement Of yesterday declaring
that the governments proposal as
finally drafted was vitality different
from the plan formulated by former
Fuel Administrator Garfield and
which they bound themselves TO ac-
cept. maintained silence today. The
operators, however, decided during
the day to call off a general meeting
OF the scale committee OF the cen
trail competitive field which has
been called for Tuesday in Cleve-
land AT the conference. which will
take place after Christmas, it isl
said, the operators expect TO formu-
late the policy they will adopt to-
wards the governments plan and
the commission appointed Saturday
by Pres't Wilson 10 adjudicate the
miners claims.
Palmer in Denial.
Atty. Gen. Palmer in a statement
Monday night denied the assertions
made yesterday by the operators
whose position he characterized as
"the merest Quibble and quite un-
worthy OF great industry" The
operators, the attorney general said.
had from the beginning clamored
for arbitration and had stated re-
peatedly their willingness to con-
form 70 any plan which the pres
Their allegation now" he said.
that they were not consulted about
the form OF the memorandum.
which was submitted TO the miners
conference. is absurd"
Submitted Proposal
The settlement proposal. as ac-
cepted by the miners the attorney
general further declared. was sub
mitted 20 representatives OF the
operators in indianapolis, who in
turn communicated il TO their rep
lresentatives in Washington.
NO objection was made" added
Mr.. Palmer. the operators remain
ed absolutely silent until after the
men were back in the mines. Then
for the first time they began TO OBJ
ject
Miners Return.
The miners went back TO work
/ in obedience 10 the law and the or
ders Of the court without having
their demands granted. They relied.
as they had a right 10 rely. upon the.
/ promise OF the president that imme-
diately upon complete resumption of
! operation a commission would be
/ appointed 10 take up the matters al.
issue The officers OF the govern
ment had an equal right 20 rely
upon the good faith OF the operators
/ in their previous declarations OF
lagreement with this program The
Igoverumeut viii not assume that the
operators viii break faith. and. in
deed, ways will be found 10 keep
faith in this vitality important trans
action The commission VIII pro-
|ceed with it's work and / have no
doubt that upon further reflection
i the operators win see the wisdom OF
D. hearty rorueratfpu with II