Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-07-21
COAL STRIKERS
GET PROPOSAL
SCHEME WOULD HAVE MINERS
RETURN TO WORK At OLD
WAGE SCALE
Suggests Procedure Looking 10 VI.
Innate Adjustment Of Wage and
Working Condition OF
All Parties

Washington.--President Harding
submitted Monday TO the bituminous
and anthracite operators and miners
gathered here In conference n proposal
That the miners return to work at the
wage scale In existence when work
was suspended on April and con-
tinue to work on that scale until Aug
ust 10. meanwhile an arbitration
board being appointed to negotiate
new wage scale.
Inc arbitration commission would
De expected TO have its award ready
py August 10, but II unable to arrange
new scale by that date, the scale
which expired April ] would be con.
tinued from August 10 TO April /.
1928.
president Harding's proposals were
put before the operators and miners
union officials In the form of n let
Ter and both sides In the bituminous
industry left the White House 10 con.
slider them ut separate meetings. The
anthracite operators and miners re-
NAMED, however.
In outlining his proposal for gov.
ernment arbitration. President Hard
ing said:
The Information has come TO me
mat your conference is deadfocked.
or. at the best, attempting to agree on
plans which will require extended time
to work out. have said heretofore
that the government prefers you who
are parties to the dispute should set
tie IL among yourselves, because Won
best understand all the problems in.
VOWED. The government cannot set
tie II for you. 1t will force no man
to work against his free will, Il will
force no man to employ men against
the free exercise OF an employers
rights. The government will not be
partisan, but the government is con-
cerned with coal production sufficient
to meet the industrial and transpor-
tation requirements of tho country
and to safeguard against n fuel fam.
Inc when winter comes again, and IL
is desired TO have production resumed
at once.
"The commission shall investigate
exhaustively every phase of the coal
Industry. 1t shall reveal every cost of
production. The president will ask
congress to confer authority for the
most thorough investigation and make
appropriations necessary to do such
work. The commission shall make
recommendations looking to the es
Enlistment and maintenance of indus
trial peace in the coal industry, the
elimination OF waste due to intermlt-
tency and instability, and suggest
plans for dependent fuel supply.
Il have taken this short cut 10
resumption of operations because I
believe 1t to be I'm the interest of the
public welfare. II ls that simple form
OF adjusting disputes which answers
the call OF good conscience and lust
civilization. When two great forces
do not agree there must be a peace
full way TO adjustment and such an
arbitration opens the way.
II do not expect reply without the
due consideration. Please take the
proposal to separate conferences. I
wish you to appralse the situation,
weigh your responsibilities and then
answer this proposal as you wish To
be appraised by American public
opinion. l nm speaking first OF all
in the public interest. but 1 am like
wise mindful of the rights OF both
workers and operators"