Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-08-11
EARLY RESUMPTION
OF MINING IS SEEN,
MEETINGS RESULT
But 20 Per Cent of Central
Field Represented at
Cleveland.
LEWIS HOLDS ACTION
WILL SWERNE OTHERS
Indiana and Illinois Continue
Refusal to Enter
Conference.
OLD CONTRACTS RESTORED
Committee Plan VIII Send Mincr,
Hnck mt Pay Hate Prevail
Ing on March n.
LEWIS HOLDS ACTION
WILL SWERNE OTHERS
LID CONTRACTS RESTORED
Committee Plan VIII Send wincy,
Hack mt Pay Hatc Prevail
Ing on March ~,
tBy Associated Pross.l-


CLEVELAND. OHIO. Aug. io.-Sc-
Eotiation OF a wage contract. which
according to sponsors of the plan
will result in ending the soft-coal
strike. was begun today by operators
ana miners. who decided to leave tb.
details of settlement to a committee
OF twehty-one. which will begin con-
slderinG its report tomorrow. The
start was made after the policy com
mittec OF tho United Mine Workers
voted In favor OF contracting with
those operators OF tho central oom-
petitive field who had enrolled in tho
conference.
Approximately 20 per cent OF the
normal coal production of the CEN
trail competitive field was Represent
ed in tha conference. but this propor-
ton did not deter President Lewis, OF
the miners. from predicting a set
tlement at the conference here would
result in more than 100000 miners
returning to work in the soft-ooal
fields within week.
The miners have won this fight.
and II Is practically over" said Mr..
Lewis.
Both Illinois and Indiana Stay out.
None of the Illinois or Indiana as
sociations CT operators was represent
ed in the conference as II settled down
to business. but independent opers-
tors were present from both States.
While the conference was at work
here. w. 4. Glasgow, OF PhiIade,-
phia' counsel for the miners, had
gone to Toledo to confer with three
members OF the Illinois operators.
scale committee. and the hope was
held out among the confetee here
that the Illinois Operators Associa-
ton might yet join the conference
Mr.. Lewis. however. declared there
had been no deviation from the
unions stand against arbitration
position to which the Illinois associa-
ton have attributed their refusal to
join the conference
Re-EstabIish Old Scale.
The unions demands for settle
ment center on the re-establishmeut
OF the wage contracts that expired
last March 81. the eve of the strike
that has tied up the coal industry for
more than four months. This was
made clear by Mr.. Lewis at the meet
ing OF the union policy cbmmittcn
when he declared. There will be no
reduction OF wages. and the miners
VIII not 60 back to work except un-
der the old contracts" No an.
nounccment came from the operators
OF their demands
The committee OF twenty-one tina,
VIII frame the settlement. which will
be presented to the general confer
cnce for acceptance or rejection. will
include eleven miners and ten opsra-
tors.
West Nfrgininns Spectators
While several West Virginia opcra.
tors had attended the conferences.
they were not enrolled as confcrees
by the credentials committee. but
they said they expected any contract
they may make with the union would
be based on that negotiated at the
conference.
The unions purpose to adopt any
scale made here as "A basis for set
Elements throughout the soft coal IN
dnstry was shown at the policy com :
mittee meeting. after which Mr..
Lewis declared that when "a scale {.
made here. 80 per cent OF all bitumiu-
Gus tonnage now on strike will sign
that scale"