Evening star., 1922-07-12
COAL MEN EVADE
HARDING ARB|TRAL
PLAN, IS CHARGE
Both Sides Delay Action to
Study Public Opinion, U. S.
Officials Assert.
WONDER IF SENTIMENT
WILL ALLOW REJECTION
Anthracite Operators May Reply
Tonight-U. S. Hints at More
Than Persuasion.

dut0IHClte UpeIatOIS may 1SPAy
Tonight-U. S. Hints at More
Than Persuasion.
Omcials Of the United Mine
Workers Of America. after . con-
ference today with Secretary OF
Labor Davis, were Understood to
have decided to seek . conference
with President Harding, at which
request will be made that the ex-
eeutive modify his coal strike set
tlement plan 40 n to guarantee
that any decision made BY the pro-
posed arbitration commission shall
country.
High government ofacials declared
today that in their opinion both
the United Mine Workers officials
and spokesmen for the bituminous
operators were delaying and evadins
action on President Harding's plan
for arbitration Of the coal strike
in an effort to ascertain whether pub
lic opinion will permit a rejection OF
the settlement proposal.
These officials declared that In the
meantime a serious situation in the
matter of the public coal supply was
likely to develop. This is particu-
larly true, 1t was added. because of
the derangemeat of the railroads
serving non-union coal mining ter
ritory where output is continuing,
and officials said they saw some in
dication that special efforts were be-
ing made by the striking railroad
workers to tie-up strategic outlets
from the non-union mining territory
south of the Ohio river.
Public Opinion Only Club.
Only the force of public opinion is
at present available to back up the
offer and administration
advisers are inclined to believe that
public pressure is necessary to- secure
action: = 81 =. \ s. NJ ~ * s@s, .
The committee of the anthracite
operators in Washington. however,
indtSSaA te&rs
man. tSday tnss Il Sossi6is M thsif n
swer would be in the hands of the
President by tonight and that it
would be a definite response to the
for arbitration.
AS individuals among the bitumi-
nous operators and the miners union
ofiicials have expressed their views to
oflicials and to the press.
It has been clear that the President 9
proposal has induced
much dissatisfaction within the in
dustry. Although the union officials
personal responsibility for
the miners response by calling In the
general. policy committee OF their or
ganization to vote upon the Presi-
dents offer. officials are we'll salts
ned that John L. Lewis. president of
the United Mine, Workers. and the
district presidents assembled here.
could have, made a recommendation
and that because of their
influential position their recommen-
dation would have practically
amounted to decision.
Reasons for Delay.
The government considers that a
favorable response to the Presidents
offer was withheld largely because
the union is inclined to demand that
arbitration shall apply to the opera
tions all over the country in the
bituminous area. The government
does not consider that it would guar
antee arbitration would be accepted
by every mine operator of the 5000
although it would be sure
that most of the operations in recog-
nized union territory would have their
working conditions and wages sub
mitted to the rule of the federal
tribunal.
on the operators side it Is known
that the Presidents proposal to rein
state the wartime wage rate in case
was accepted has induced
sharpest hostility. Many operators
are unwilling to consider payment OF
the scales which existed up to March
81 for even thirty days in view OF
the fact that non-union operation, in
as many as 100000 men, has
all during 1921 and ever
the scale which the President has now
rendered the union men.
Operators Seek C0ncessfons.
A strong endeavor has been directed
on the part of the operators to secure
at least some concession in the Presi-
dents offer before making acceptance
or refusal known.
The indicatio were today that a
failure to secure action on the Presi-
dents proposal would be followed by
q new government move probably In
the direction of exerting stronger
authority than that Of persuasion and
but the government Of
fcials responsible are reluctant to
even consider the course mentioned
until q showdown has been forced on
the Presidents offer.
Several inconclusive sessions OF the
operators now here resulted
in an adjournment of further meetings
until Sunday, after A. M.
Ogle, chairman Of the operators group
and president Of the National Coal As
ISOLATION, and delegated committee of
the operators had conferred with Presi-
dent Harding on various phases Of his
proposal brought up In the
operators conference.
Later Mr., Ogle said, the operators felt
sideration and would have to take time
for that. The union officials today were
still awaiting the meeting of the full
policy committee Of the United Mine
Workers here Saturday before formu-
lating a reply, and there were intima-
tons that delay might be expected In
that quarter also.
FEARS FUEL FAMINE. :
Minnesota Governor Seeks Priority
in Shipping. 4 =