The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-12-14
WILSON'S PLAN FOR
STRIKE SETTLEMENT
ENTIRELY WRONG, IS
VIEW OF GARFIELD
Objection of Former Fuel
Administrator Based on
Fact That Public to
Have Only One Repre-
sentative on Board

| w dSulnytOU, DeCeHDeI 10.
Principles underlying Presi-
dent Wilson's plan for the set
Element of the coal strike, &C
copied by the miners, are
fundamentally wrong as mat
ter of government" DR.. Harry
A. Garfield, federal fuel ad-
ministrator until today, told
hastily assembled subcommit-
tee of the Senate tonight.
His resignation sent to President
Wilson because of his views was ac-
copied today with those of one or two
of his associates. he said.
While discussing with some freedom
"a cleavage in the cabinet" caused by
strike settlement negotiations, DR.. Gar
| field withheld answers to questions by
Senator Frelinghuysen. republican, New
Jersey, chairman of the subcommittee.
on matters he regarded as touching
| confidential Intercourse with his for
mer associates during the strike period
He adhered to this refusal though SEN
ator Townsend. republican, Michigan,
and Senator Myers, democrat, Nc
tana, joined the chairman in urgingas s.
plies, and refused to furnish a copy Of
his letter of resignation. which he indi- =
Gated had explained his views to the
President.
MAY CALL PALMER
Senator Frelinghuysen intimated that
/ Attorney General Palmer. and other of
ficials connected with the strike settle
ment would be called later.
my objection DIR. Garfield said
of the settlement plan, "goes to the
1 point that the commission which 1
understand will be set up to decide
wages and prices will be composed
of three members, one to be "a min
er, another to be coal mine Oper-
ator, and the third to represent the
general public. Under Ii. the pub
lie, which IN the chief party mt in
tercst, would always be in the
minority
Has it been your experience with
the coal industry that employees and
employers might have a common inter-
Z est in increasing wages and costs and
: passing that increase on to the public
in prices" Senator Townsend asked.
''They may have that common inter-
est" Or. Garfield responded, qualifying
his answer by saying that he was not :
charging that this would be the neces-
sary result.
! KNOWS PRESIDENTS MIND
II believe / represent the real opin-
ion of the President in the matter no
said later, that is, iflI were able to
see him and talk 1t over. because
know his mind"
Sketching the history of strike nege-
tiations, DR.. Garfield explained that he
thought members of the cabinet were
standing with him in his suggestion Of
a IA per cent increase in wages and an
advisory commission to draw the facts
from which he derived the IA pertcent
clause. When this was refused, he add
ed, he thought the question was going
to be fought out"
DR.. Garfield would not produce tel
legram sent him by Attorney General
Palmer confirming that understanding
for which he was asked.
Discussing proposals which he had
submitted to the cabinet. DIR. Garfield
said:
COULD FIX PRICES
II had no power under the Lever act
to fix wages. but did have power to fix
prices and the determination Of rea-
sonable prices involved finally deter
mination of reasonable wages. l drew
. up a statement of principles which
thought should govern the determine
, ton of reasonable wages, and submit
, ted that to the cabinet"
They were with you on that state
ment" Senator Frelinghuysen asked.
yes, except as to the second of the
principles stated" DR.. Garfield re-
sponded. That was one which said
!, the average wage of workers In the
Industry ought to be taken as q guide
in fixing increases allowed to meet the
cost OF living, and not the wages of
a single group. Secretary of labor
Wilson desired the increases 30 given
, to be estimated on the wages of pick
miners"
what was your objection to thar"
Senator Townsend asked.
Easing the increase on the wage Of
pick miners" DR.. Garfield said, would
have resulted in securing an average
increase of 17s per cent in wages in
I the Industry over the period since 1913.
when the Secretary Of Labor conceded
; that the increase in cost of living had
been only ~ per cent.
TOOK RESPONSIBILITY
Some members of the cabinet" DR..
. Garfield said. supported him. and some
supported the Secretary of Labor, but
:. all were in agreement on the re-
mainder Of the PROPOSAL. He had
I, finally taken the responsibility OF put
Ting through his settlement sugges-
tion without securing unanimous
: agreement OF the cabinet.
1T conceived myser to be the re-
q sponsible officer he said. believing
> that / had authority to determine price
questions The matter was not pre-
scented to President Wilson"
Applying the principles laid down,
, Dr. Garfield said. he decided that ~
{ per cent would meet the increased cost
n 1 of living and that operators could pay
lit out of profits and still keep enough
mines running to supply the nation
with coal under the fixed price of
Il 225 a ton The miners decided to re-
fuse and continue the strike.
At went home. thinking the matter
was to be fought out" he said.
"And after that proposals were
made by the government to take the
matter out of your hands. in spite of
your maknificent war record. and the
way you were standing as bulwark
to the publicr' Senator Frelinghuysen
Iinter1ected.
II don't wish to 20 into the matter
= of where and how the arrangement
was made" DIR. Garfield said.
GOVERNMENTS PROPOSAL
but your proposals up to December
Ia were the governments" Senator
Myers began. accepted by all parties
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