New-York tribune., 1919-11-08
Assurance Given of Agree
ment With Operators if
Injunction Hearing Is
Postponed for a Week
No Promise Given
Call Off Strike
Palmer and Compers Con-
fer; Former Awaiting
Answer From Brewster
Ne," York Tribune
WASHINGTON Rnycc,t

washington Rl.cdn
WASHINGTON. Nov. The btu.
minous coal strike tonight seems or
the verge of settlement.
At the conclusion of a day filled will,
conferences, in which Attorney General
Palmer and Samuel Gompers, presi-
dent of the American Federation OF
Labor. were prominent figures, the case
of the miners had been boiled dowl
to this point:
Mr.. Gompers, speaking for the
leaders of the miners, made def
mite proposal to the government
which involved reopening negotia-
tions with the operators to form a
new contract to replace the one in
existence over which the trouble
arose. . ra<f', 10
Mr.. Pnlmer, after declining abso
lntely to.fAlave the goyernmAnt.,stop
ITS injunction proceedings In Indian
apolis, agreed the operators would
accept the proposal Of the miners,
and If the miners with this under
standing tomorrow would ask the
Federal court in indianapolis to
grant an extension of time for ar
guments on the Injunction the De-
partmert of Justice would not op-
pose it.
Return to Work Expected
II it appears that success is to at
tend the negotiations, it is believed
the miners will be instructed to return
to their work and the government viii
call off the injunction proceedings.
The Attorney General, after the
conferences, got in touch with Judge
{. b. Ames. Assistant Attorney Gen.
eral in charge Of the indianapolis pro
ceedlngs, and notified him the miner.
had submitted what he considered {
fair proposition and he would attempt
to reach the operators through T. T
Brewster, head Of the Coal Operators
Association of the central competitive
fields MIR. Brewster was in St. Louis
and if Mr.. Palmer fails to reach hin
tonight he expects to catch him early
tomorrow.
Neither the Attorney General MOI
Mr.. Gompers would discuss their con
terences nor indicate in any way tn.
basis on which they hope to see the
miners and operators open nesotia.
tons. Mr.. Gompers was in long dis
tance telephone communication with
John l.. Lewis, acting president of the
United Mine Workers, at his headquar-
ters in Indianapolis for long time this
afternoon after he had twice seen the
Attorney General, and he came back
for his third visit prepared to make g
definite comm ltment on behalf Of the
miners.
L. S. To Be Party to Pact
1t was suggested tonight, however
that the proposal took the form of the
contract in existence. to which the gov.
ernment was party, and that DR.
Harry Garfield, Federal Fuel Admins
traitor, Will be party to any new
agreement and the negotiations which
precede it.
One weeks postponement was said tc
have been the time set by the labor
leaders before argument of the injunc-
tion proceedings is made, and if at the
end of that period they do not get to
gether with the operators the govern
ment will SO ahead with hs legal pro
ceedlngs against the strike.
With the pressure Of public opinion
directed upon them, government otti
Gals dc not feel that the two sides
will fail to get together in this time
temporary restraining order against
the leaders of the miners still woult
run. 1t would be TO their advan
tage to effect an early settlement
with the order in effect, because De
partment of Justice reports show the!
are suffering many defections, and il
these continued in short time the
strike would be broken and they woult
have little left on which to come into {
negotiation. On the side of the oper
ators new agreement possibly woult
mean the lifting OF the maximum prices
by DR.. Garfield and the restoration OF
production to normal.
Mr.. Gompers saw Mr.. Palmer three
times during the day. After his frs
visit the Attorney General went to {
meeting of the Cabinet and the whole
situation was discussed in detail. Al
effort By some members to have the
government ask for postponement Of
the injunction proceedings tomorrow
was not accepted and it was deter
mined to so ahead with the govern
ment's plans just as had been decided
upon last week. unless the miners
offered some solution which seemed
reasonable and fair to Mr.. Palmer.
Recall of Strike Insisted On
AS he left the Cabinet meeting Mr.
Palmer said:
The injunction suit will be dis
missed the instant, the very instant
the strike order is recalled"
Director General Hines and Dr. Gar
eld sat with the Cabinet, but left fifteer
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