The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-03
MAR To THE END LLOYD GEORGE
AT COAL Mines STATES POSITION
Miners Union and Operators
Refuse to Consider Com
promise
ALL PROPOSALS SO
FAR ARE REJECTED
Government Officials Fail in Eff
forts to End Strike at This
Time

forts to End Strike at ms
Time
Washington. Nov. 27.-An abrupt
end came late today to all attempts
to settle the nationwide cool strike
J by peaceful agreement.
Miners and operators spent a bleak
Thanksgiving afternoon in embitter-
ed debate over the government pro-
posal for a II per cent wage increase,
made last night by Fuel Administra-
tor Garfield, and rejected ii and
every other proposal that was forth
ecming, and then dissolved, sine die.
Participants went home tonight.
and where the, break left coal strike
conditions, no one Of them, miner or
operator, would say. Likewise, IN
official quarters, there was silence.
Acting President John L. Lewis Oh
the mine workers, though refusing to
SAY one word as to the strike itself,
which theoretically was called Off IN
obedience to federal court injunction
Solding it violation Of the Lever
act for war time food and fuel con-
troll, scored the government roundly
at the conclusion Of the conference,
So did William Green. secretary OF
the n1ine workers.
Operators, though accepting the
government proposal definitely, in a
letter OF explanation TO DR.. Garfield
which they made public, intimated
that the governmental refusal to al
low price increases would bear recon-
sideration.
It. was behind closed doors that the
cear situation reached its climax to-
day after involving the full attention
OF the federal government for two
days previously. There was much
heated oratory but T. W. Guthrie OF
Pittsburgh, acting chairman OF the
operators committee. described the
parliamentary procedure succinctly, as
sAeseanfe he operators; by o.
Breatranged plan, notified the MIN
erS scale committee for the central
competitive field of their acceptance
Of Dr.. Garfeld's plan.
6 This the mine workers promptly
voted down. In turn, the miners put.
forward a counter proposal. that Sec
retary Wilson's suggestion for 3l.6o.
per cent wage increase be granted,
and this the operators fatty refused.
FOR the third time the operators re-
newed their formal offer Of arpitra-
ton and the miners voted this down
by unanimous vote adjournment was
taken.
..The operators are pretending to
accept DR.. Garfield's proposal Mr..
Lewis. said. manifesting scorn and IN
dignation as he called the newspaper
men around him in the Uttered and
noisy han that was the scene Of the
all day gatherings.
"But as they do it, they state they
are unable TO operate many Of their
mines under it. 1t would be foolish
for us to attempt to make an agree
nent unless miners are to be given
work.
"Our position is unchanged. We
hold the United States government
can not break it's word. The pledge
of Secretary Wilson to grant US a 81
per cent increase must be, redeemed.
In my judgment DR., Garfield and the
cabinet have committed the most
colossal blunder in the history OF our
nation. They are blindly following an
academic theory without regard TO
Justice TO the mine workers or effects
on the people Of the United States.
..Responsibility' for the crisis now
confronting the nation must be with
those states using the powers OF gov
ernnent to oppress and deny justice TO
a great element of its citizenship dl-
rectly concerned in industry.
"I can not believe the people OF
eur country will irdorse such a policy
Of oppression and repression, which
means continued industrial chaos
and intense suffering on the part OF
the mine workers and our citizen
ship"
With that, Lewis brushed away all
guestioners. His associates. however,
confirmed the impression that there
would be no resumption of work IN
the mining camps now closed.
ODerators less communicative, went
away with varying resolutions one
or two had reached determination
they said to attempt coal production
regardless of the strikers. but most
of them were in doubt on this point.
A,ciny Chairman Guthrie indicated
that as an organized body they mad
ceased 10 function. and that indlvld-
ual necessity and inclination would
govern their action, though all would
wait q little TO see what the govern
ment proposed.
The open letter to DR.. Garfield said
that in view Of the serious situation
fhe wage scale committee for the GER
1ral field would accept his suggested
basis of settlement, preserving pres
ent differentials."
AT the same time VIC wish TO call
ro,,r attention to the fact that the
acceptance of this increase in wages
without any increase in selling price
az hituminous coal entirely eliminate>
the profits of a large number OF
mines it continued. Such iars'
t,o 5tfn