The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1920-07-30
Mine OWNERS
REJECT union
LEADERS, PLEA
Will Not Meet Lewis for Con-
ference; Stand on Ground
That Strike Is Illegal, They
Say.
REPORT TO PRESIDENT
(By Associated Press)

dent Lewis of the United Mine work
ers for a joint meeting Of the oper-
ators' and miners scale committee, to
settle the present strike.
The operators appointed a commit
tee to draft a reply to Mr.. Lewis mes
sage, declaring that the striking min
ers are violating their contract, enter
ed into when the government fixed the
last wage award, and demanding that
the miners president order his men
back to work.
The coal operators will not meet
with the miners unless ordered to do
, SO by the government.
VIII State Their Position.
The Indiana and Illinois operators
will meet again this afternoon to-
frame a statement setting forth their
position.
Chicago members of the committee,
who went to Washington recently to
present information on the strike OF
day laborcrs in Illinois mines, dcclar-
ed then that they could not undertake, 4
to change the wage agreement with
the miners signed last April, unless
the government reopened the coal
commission hearings which drew up
the wage scale.
Some members of the committee
have declared their willingness to ad
just the increase granted the day
lahorers by the coal commissions
award, to make it equal the increase
granted other miners, but not until
governmental permission was receiv-
ed. The day laborers who struck, an
nounced their dissatisfaction with the
difference in increases.
Holding Coal in r. r. Yards?
1t was reported today that some of
the railroads here were exercising
their priority rights and holding in
the yaNds coal which could be used
In locomotives. Several hundred cars
of coal are said to be in railroad yards
here awaiting acceptance by the con-
signees.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, July 30
Executive officers Of the United Mine
Workers of America today were
clothed with full authority to take
whatever action they deem necessary
in the situation created by the walk
out OF company men and day workers
in the Indiana and Illinois coal fields
Blanket authority to act has been
conferred on President John L. Lewis
; and other executive officials of the
union, it was announced today. This
Lewis today:
THE interna tional executive board
before adjournment yesterday adopted
resolution giving the executive Off
GERS Of the interna tional union blank
ct authority to take any action neces-
sarv 'r ""otect the interests of the or
ganiZation" .sas sss
No mention was made of any other
action taken by the board
Every Mine in State Closed
Reports from the Indiana coal fields
today indicated no change in the situa-
tion. Union officers at Tcrre Haute
claimed that virtually every mine in
the state is closed
President Ed. Stewart, Of District
No. II, United Mine Workers, issued
statement this morning saying:
"Practically the entire coal field is
closed. Less than one per cent of the
bituminous mines in the state are on
Grating We arc hopeful for an early
solution Of the problem of getting the
m"n lack to work, but ~ present the
WAv is not Gear"
None of the union officers would
comment on the action of the Indiana
operators in declining to participate
in Il joint conference with the miners.
WASHINGTON. July 30-President
Wilson today bad under consideration
the report of the coal situation made
to him yesterday by Secretary of La
Dor Wilson. who recommended re.
opening of the wages award of the BIZ
luminous coal commission so that It
A would include wages of mine laborers
= Distraction of the laborerS over their
wage scale has resulted in the strike
in the Illinois and Indiana coal fields,
which operators report, has greatly
curtailed production.
1t was said that the president might
appeal to miners who are on strike in
Illinois and Indiana to return TO WORK
pending amicable settlement of their
grievances.
Other demands for an increase in
wages probably will be discussed at
a conference in New York between re-
presentatives Of four government de-
partments and a committee from the
coal industry.
Plans for averting a coal famine
next winter and for checking profiteer-
ing in the coal trade also will be con-
sidered at the conference, according
to acting Attorney General Ames. who
said last night that the government
hoped to develop program on which
coal men could come half way" in
solving the coal problem.
PITTSBURG, Kas., July 30-Alex
ander Howat, district president OF the
United Mine Workers, today wired
John L. Lewis, International president
at indianapolis. that Kansas miners
would "use all the power in their
command to compel the operators to
return every dollar that was stolen
from their wages"
Howat's declaration was regarded
by operators as tantamount to defiance
\ OF the international president. Presi
dent Lewis in a recent telegram to
the local official took the stand that
the five day week instituted by the
miners, and which resulted in the as
sessments levied by the operators
was a violation of the union contract