Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-09-02
MINERS AND OWNERS
NEGOTIATIONS FOR
PEACE ARE RESUMED
Senator Pepper Sees End OF
Strike as Result Of Today's
PhiIa. Conference.
MAYORS URGE SETTLEMENT
By AssocIated Prcsa b ryery rvenlnr


BY Associated Press to Every Evening
Philadelphia, Sept. members Of
the policies committee OF the anthra-
cite coal operators met here today
TO take final action on the proposal
Of United States Senators Pepper and
Reed to end tho long suspension I'm
the hard coal industry, The sub-scale
committee of the United Mine Work.
crs waited at their headquarters for
developments. some Of them express-
ing the opinion that joint confer
ence would be called soon 10 bring
about quick end TO the controversy.
Not tho slightest indication came
from the operators as to their pro-
posed course beyond the statement is
sued Thursday that they would sub
NIT 20 the demands Of the men IL
public mandate" compelled them TO
sign a long term contract based on
the old wage scale.
Prior to the meeting interest center
ed about Secretary OF Labor Davis,
who came here last night and was
I'm touch with both sides. Mr.. Davis
was uncommunicativc and refused TO
discuss reports that he had brought
a mandate" from President Harding
Before leaving for New York TO at
tend textile strike conference, Sec
retary Davis repeated his Washing
ton statement of yesterday that there
is nothing in the situation to justify
! increased prices OF anthracite coal this
winter. Mr.. Davis was reported as
saying there should be decrease in
| prices.
1t is understood the proposition be-
! fore the operators is whether 10 final
| ly receed from arbitration and agree
TO new contract based on the old
/ wage scale TO run to next September
or to April 1924.
A spokesman for the operators said
the crucial question before the pro-
ducers was whether conditions justify
their granting the miners a long-term
contract
The mine owners had before them q
large batch of communications sent
them following the issuance OF the
public mandate" statement II was
stated there was no national man
date" among them. Most OF them were
from. mayors. chambers OF commerce
and other organizations.
! Prediction by Senator Pepper that
the anthracite controversy will be set
tied today, and general expressions Of
4 belief among close observers OF the
satnation that befora night rcsump-
Il ton OF the joint peace negotiations
between union leaders and mine oper-
ators is likely. marked the beginning
OF the one hundred and fifty fifth day
OF the struggle.
:. while the strike IS not settled in
sofar as the actual mining of coal
is concerned" said Senator Pepper.
"the tendency appears TO me to be
favorable to an early adjustment"
He had hoped, he continued, based
. on his contact yesterday with both
sides, that when the operators met
again today. their unanimity of senti-
ment, combined with that OF the
miners. would result in speedy set
tlement.
The hard coal operators were ex-
pected to determine at their meet
ing today whether they have had the
public mandate" which they demand
, ed in their statement of Thursday
4 Whether the mine leaders also were
! TO meet among themselves today had
not been definitely Vascertained, but IL
was presumed that they would
Mayor Durkan. of Scranton, as head
of the committee of mayors of cities
in the anthracite fields that has beer
: endeavoring to bring peace between
the opposing factors has sent a mes
= sage to Samuel ID. Warriner, chair.
man of the policies committee of tbs
anthracite operators association, de
? claring the mayors believing that the,
: were representing the sentiment Of the
2 people, urged the operators 10 sigr
E a contract that will assure the present
7 wage scale being continued until Apri
! /, 1924.
: Mr.. Warriner had previously SEN
2 a message to public officials OF vari.
Gus communities asking them to ex.
press approval or disapproval OF tn,
] miners demand for a continuance o
2 the old scale after April /. 1929
The Pennsylvania Coal Commission
ii, announcing its plans for the distri
button of anthracite to eliminate am
shortage as far as possible. In state
ment issued last night, took a fins
: at the bituminous brokers. The state
, ment asserted in effect that there wa.
no danger of a soft coal shortage ans
accused the brokers OF frank and un
3ustifiable profteering"