The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-08-30
WILSON ACCEPTS
WAGE AWARD
Miners Officials Pessimistic
at Prospect Of Restraining
Dissatisfied Men.
INSURGENTS IN CONTROL
At Wilkesbarre, Pa.--Troops
Patrol West Virginia
Strike Region.

Washington, Aug. 30.-President Will
son today accepted the majority report
viding for an increase OF 20 per cent in
wages OF anthracite coal miners.
Il accept the conclusion of the ma
Jority," said the president. in making
the announcement OF his action, within
the limits OF the jurisdiction under the
terms OF the submission. as being the
award OF the commission"
This award while providing condi-
itions for the employees, offered no Jus
tifcation for any advance I'm the retail
prices OF coal, but on the other hand IL
consistent with a decline in prices, "
declared the report OF the commission.
rThe award has not passed great
burden along to the consumer Of coni.
Any sharp advance In the retail price
OF coal could not be charged TO the
operators the miners or the award
Terms OF Report.
Miners employed as company men are
gwen an Increase OF IL per cent. and
ton miners" and miners, laborers and
monthly men. ""''
The findings. the report said. would
hx minimum rate OF So Ia cents per
aothran,,. aoTr iSr the , lower paid men in the
Anthracite mine workers will receive
about $lS.000,000 In back pay under the
retroactive features Of the award,
which makes Il effective April l, 1890,
ana the total increase awarded TO the
ab,ouV miners wiz average. the COM
nually.
The majority report declared that the
award offers no justification for any
advance in the retail prices OF coal but
on the other hand Is consistent with q
in retail prices. the report added,
could not be charged 20 the operators,
the miners or the award"
The minority report, signed by Cop-
missioner Ferry, while. departing from
officers OF the United Mine workers
will, Of course. accept and carry out
this majority award with the
utmost good faith"
viii Mean a Strike.
SWilkes-B Barre, Pa, Aug. 30.--Reynaldo
Cappelihi, organizer OF the present
strike of 10000 miners Of the Pennsyl-
vania Coal company, and one Of the
signers of the strike ultimatum TO Pres
ident Wilson, said this afternoon the
presidents approval OF the majority re-
port OF the anthracite wage commits
sion VIII probably mean strike. A
meeting of all delegates OF all locals
VINO met Saturday night and framed
she ultimatum to the president has
been called for "Wednesday morning in
tEis city when action on the president's
approval Of the majority report will be
taken.
Despite Thelr Promise.
Wilkesbarre, Pa, Aug. s0,--To pre-
vent strike OF 175,0O0 anthracite coal
miners the administration leaders OF
the United Mine Workers are waglng
bitter battle against the insurgent
lenders. who yesterday sent an ulti-
matum to President Wilson. The in-
FurRents have the upper hand and with
10000 miners OF the pennsylvania Coal
company already out as protest
against the contract system" there IL
little doubt about their ability to close
down majority OF the mines. Miners
are thoroughly dissatisfied and, though
many OF them dislike rejecting an
award which they promised to accept,
they feel certain that they win have to
ultimatum to the president.
Despite utterances of the district
president, the miners favoring strike
are going on with preparations for
walkout. i is the purpose OF the union
adminis'ra ton leaders to ask President
Wilson for a reopenng OF the miners
case since, according to agreement. the
union mine workers cannot absolutely
reject the award Of the commission.
west Virginia Situation.
Williamson w. Va. Aug. So.--Fed-
eral soldiers today took up their sta
tions in the Mlngo county strike region
headquarters having been established
here yesterday by Colonel Burkhardt
who commanded the troops from Camp
Sherman. Otto. Preparations were at
the same time made TO withdraw the
state constabulary, who have been on
duty the greater part OF the time since
the miners struck for recognition OF
the union.
Details OF the troop disposition were
not made public, but IL was found that
Colonel Burkhardt has under his COM
mand sufficient nnmber OF officers and
men to completely patrol the entire
region. including Pike county across
the Tug river, in Kentucky. where
Kentucky. national guafGsmen have
been stationed. =
Reports received by coal operators
here were that a number Of mines were
In operation and preparations were
being made to reopen others, which
have been closed since the strike was
called.
Officlals Of the anthracite commission
said the joint wage scale committee OF
miners and operators had already been
called to meet Wednesday or Thursday
They characterized the meeting OF min
ers at Wilkes-Barre. Pa, last night as
an insurgent gathering without author
ity to commit the miners to rejection.
No intimatlon OF the contents Of the
report has been given out officially,
What purnorts to be a synopsis OF the
commissions findings has been pub
lished in the anthracite region. how
ever. and Secretary Wilson. Of the la
ference with Hugh T.. Kerwin, chief Of
the bureau Of Cancellation. reports that
the miners were dissatisfied and threat
ened strike II the commissions re-