New-York tribune., 1922-02-15


western Pennsylvania and Ohio,
parties to this agreement, to meet in
Interstate Joint conference, wc instruct
the international officers to call upon
the operators Of the contra! competi-
tive field to comply with the agreement
they honorably made by meeting in
joint conference al as early date
ss possible"
Referendum on Strike
With reference to the calling Of a
strike the report says
THE present contract between the
coal operators and the United MiNc
Workers Of America in both the an
terminates on March 81. In the event
no agreement is reached by April |, we
declare in favor of general suspen-
sion of raining operations, such action
being subject to q referendum vote Of
the membef fship of the United Mine
Workers of America. such referendum
to be held prior to March 81"
Observers who now view the pros
poets Of a general coal strike as de-
gree or two less menacing unless tho
next move on the fuel chessboard
which is up 80 the operators. materi-
ally changes the position of the pieces
do so not only because Of the newest
action with regard to the bituminous
miners. but also for the reason that
there is g. strong belief prevalent here
that n new anthracite agreement can
be negotiated with greater ease and
more speed than can a bituminous CON
tract. despite tho demands Of the hard
coal workers and tho barricadcs and
other more or less warlke prepa ratio iors
NoT being made in some sections Of
northeastern Pennsylvania.
These Observers point 10 the fact that
the anthracite miners snd operators
have successfully negotiated Agree
ments for twenty consecutive years
without g strike in the industry In
addition they say that the fact that
the hard coal operators already have
agreed to meet again with the miners,
on the basis Of the contentious, of both
sides. points at least to some desire for
an amicabe adjustment Of their DIFF
fcrences.
Compromise is Suggested
As tending somewhat to support these
opinions, it was learned definitely from
an authoritative local source that the
representatives of thc anthracite
ators in q wholly onen-minded spirit" ,"
possibly even to accepting compromises.
The bargaining undoubtedly Will be
hard. 1T wa explained. "But 1t wiz
be bargaining. and not z delivering Of
'ronclad utimatums. Each size. Of
course, Will present its maXnnu,l de
mands first. and there viii be oi Of
noise: Then they'll get down to bust
ness"
Another we'll Informed man offered
the doubt that "thc operators will care
to interrupt their sale Of anthracite
to New Workers at $l5 ton On total
production cost of 500 a tom
1t any agreements are reached it
was declared. the anthracite contract
Is almost sure to como first and if this
is the case the union leaders say the
anthracite miners will fulfill their con-
tract, even though Il strike in the btu
mlncus fields might follow. However.
the reaching Of an anthracite agree
ment undoubtedly would have a cor-
tam beneficial effect on any bitu,nin-
Gus negotiations, according to some cx-
pectations.
Expect L. S. tn Intervene
Should all these beliefs prove wron
cons Slderable faith rs placed in thf
opinion that the government viii inter.
Yene III time to prevent general strike
or walk-out either OF the -bitn1ainous
or anthracite miners through action hy
the President and a Federal commits,
si1n similar to that taken in previous
labor disputes in the coal fields. Ger
tam diplomatic advances already have
been made by Secretary of Commerce
Hoover in The matter, and although
these have not produced definite re-
suits thus far, he has given no indica
tion of desire to wash his bands of
the matter.
New information which has reached
indianapolis during the last few davs
has somewhat dimmed tho importance
Of the forthcoming conference of mine
union and railroad brotherhood leaders
in Chicago. 1t was stated without
qualification by one Of the mine work
crs' chiefs that mo alliance between
the two can be effected" so far as the
Big Four" brotherhods are concerned
and they hold the dominating posi-,
ton among. the railroad unions. The
comment of this informant was:
The Big Four brOthorhOOdc o,or.4