The Washington herald., 1922-08-17
Expect Hard Coal Agreement.

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16.-It is
generally believed that the confer
ence between anthracite coal oper-
ators and officials of the United
Mine Workers. which starts here
tomorrow. win result in quick SET
tlement Of the hard coal strike.
Predictions were being made
that the miners would be back at
work within week in those
mines in condition to work
Union officials. however. warned
the men that the suspension was
on throughout the period of nego-
tiations.
In the event Of a quick agree
ment it is believed a hurried call
for tri-district conference of
union officials to ratify. will be
made.
union. who comes here direct from
Cleveland. issued a statement in
which he declared the soft coal
strike settlement did not leave
room to doubt complete union
victory.
The agreement contained no
commitment for arbitration. he
said, but on the other hand has
has been written on a broad pre-
mise. which gives reasonable as
surance that machinery of collec-
tive bargaining will be strength
ened and improved.
Lewis Outlines Policy.
Acceptance of the agreement by
60.O00.000 tons annual production
represented in the conference and
the execution of additional agree
i,n.- -nlx
| than 100000 tons production.
gives the settlement impetus that
will be irrestible.'
Outlining the union policy in re-
gard to nonunion men on strike.
he said:
1T is tie intention of the United
| Mine Workers to exercise the full
moral and financial strength of the
| organization to sustain and protect
its members in their fight against
powerful nonunion interests who
| may continue to fight the prin-
ciples of collective bargaining in
the various producing fields"
5000 Out Of $4,000 Return.
PITTSBURGH. Aug. 1e.-Eight
| thousand mine workers in about
| forty Of the 200 mines of the Pitts
| burch district. or about IS per cent
| of the $4,000 on strike, resumed
/ work today, or were authorized to
do so. under contracts made with
individual operators and based on
the Cleveland settlement yesterday.
+ The Pittsburgh Coal Producers
Association. chief operator organi-
zation in the Pittsburgh district,
fatty refused telegraphed invita-
ton of Acting President p. T.
Fagan. of District No. 5, United
Mine Workers. for a joint confer
ence to negotiate a district agree
ment here based on the Cleveland
settlemnt.
The association of coal operators
for the Freeport thick vein seam.
representing 20 per cent of the dis
trict production. deferred a meet
ing called for today until tomorrow.
The thick vein operators will be
| a unit. it was Indicated. in also re-
jecting the mine workers invita-
tion.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 16.-Fuel
for the winter once more started
pouring from the deep mines Of the
Eastern Ohio fields as miners went
back to work today under terms Of
the new wage agreement reached at
the Cleveland conference.
majority Of those signing the
new contract are operators of this
State.
The Cambridge scale district was
signed completely. 1t is the first dis
trict in the United States to accept
the new wage agreement unanimously
Only one or two individual op-
orators in the Hooking district of
Southern Ohio. however. signed the
| new agreement. This is the most
important Ohio field not affected by
the agreement.
Workers in Eastern. Central and
Northern Ohio. however. were under
| orders today to resume operation.