New-York tribune., 1922-08-23
Anthracite Negotiations
Broken OFF, as Union
Refuses All Concessions
of Operators for Peace
Insists ON Keeping
Strike as Weapon
Balk ait Recommendation
Arbitration ON a New
Paw Contract Next Year
srtcsal pispateh % r1w T.xbune

ference OF miners and operators in the
eifIces of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation
Company here. Planks in the original
garded in last effort to reach basis
OF agreement. but to no purpose. The
miners baked at even recommendatory
arbitration of the differences between
the contending factions.
1We have made every concession
that respect for the public interest,
our business integrity and the gov
srnment's suggestions has required"
said S. D. Warmer, chairman of the
operators committee, after adjourn
nnent. The general attitude of the
operators was that they could not with
In reason submit to any proposition
shat would leave the industry open to
strikes IN the future.
Brief Statement Issued.
The following statement was given
out after the departure of the confer
ees:
eThe anthracite committee met this
afternoon. The conference was un-,
able to agree aid adjourned to meet
ct the cali of the secretary upon re-.
quest of either the miners or oper-
htors."
Causes of the split were manifold,
@ith wages as the chief bone of con-
tention. The length of a new contract
formed another point of argument, the
operators standing firm for practically
immediate drafting of q permanent set
tlement, the miners insisting on two
year contract at the old wage scale.
{ The first peace proposal of the OPP
eSntors, namely, to use the present
anthracite conciliation commission as
body with arbitrary powers to de-
termine the wage scale, with provision
for three umpires to decide in the
event of deadlock, was rejected by
the miners on the ground that the
strike was an economic weapon Of
which they should not be deprived as,
they asserted, entering into such an
agreement would do.
The second proposal Of sthe operat-
ess contained several marked modifi-
atioris of the original. Instead Of In
nstlng on the retention of Charles
NELL as one of the three umpires, no
PERSONS were named for that Office.
Urge Wage Change in Year
But written into the rest appeared
the clause that wages and working. con-
ditions to be determined by the con-
eiliation commission to take effect
April /, 1928, should be effective for
period of one year, from that date,
and that at the end of that time the
the wages and conditions for two
year period commencing April 1, 1924.
The original proposal read:
"0n January 8, 1928, the anthracite
board of eonciliation shall get in con-
ference and determine wages and
working conditions in the anthracite
field to become effective April /, 1928"
The one-year clause proved the rock
that wrecked the peace ship for the
miners in their turn had proposed
tw0-year contract dating from April
last
AS the meeting progressed to-day
both sides became more and more firm
n their positions, with the result that
the conference broke UP unable to
agree
The atst and second proposals Of the
operators also differed as to what
should be done in event the concilia-
nrst proposal on this subject reads:
In case there has been no agreement
prior to February 20, the presiding
Judge of the United States States Cir
eult Court of Appeals for the Sd Judi
cial District shall appoint three men
who shall sit with the board to hear
the argument and decide the matters
in dispute. Their decision shall be
binding upon apd observed by both
parties.
One of the three men SO to be ap-
pointed shall be Charles P. Neill, who
Ior many years has acted as umpire in
deciding cases that have come before
the board and the other two shall be
eminent and disinterested citizens,
identified neither with the operators or
their employees. The umpires SO ap-
3 pointed shall render their decision on
or before March 81, 1929"
The second proposal presented at:
to-day's meeting read:
In case there has been no3 agree
merit prior to February Is, in, years
1928 and 1924, the presiding Judge Of
the United States Circuit Court Of
Appeals for the third Judicial dis
trlct shall appoint three disinterested
etlzens of outstanding character and
ability, who shall sit with the board
70 near the argument and make frid-
i,nigs with respect to the matters in
9ispu&- These findings shall be rem
aered on OK before March, shall be
sscommendasory in character, and
; saals be subjcct to acceptance or re-
sscsion by ether party within ten days
hereafter"
The Operators Limit
The proposal to make the findings
" ~ the conciliation commission merely
recommendation" instead of binding
ma marked the limit 6f the concessions
sns e., operators felt they could make.
"a continued opposition on the part
w. ~ the miners" said Mr.. Warmer,
~ 20 any plan which seeks to avbidsan-
Sp.aer suspension carries with. it. q
~ ssasy responsibility. 1t means that
sa sas oif'cials of the United Mine Work
saa s assumed responsibility for the
~ ,psshsring on the part of the public and
sns miners themselves that may result
proa,, sapa further delay in resumption Of
al. AZ means that rather than agree
sns ssn 20 an advisory finding as 70
s;,s'e asale wages the miners representa-'
~ sss are wiling to deprive the peor
StS. ~ a large section of the United.
bsS.es bsIses OF essential fnels We cannot
s;sese' thar this stand, will, be. nsainr
s'ed. II it is there can be no ques-
~ ~ as to where the responsibility lies
~