New-York tribune., 1922-07-28
Back
WitklinMOnth
Says Lewis
Strike Won, Union Leader
Asserts, in Announcing
Call for Joint Farley
viii BE Issued Soon

PHILADELPHIA, July 81 - JVhh -
Lewis, president Of the United Mine
Workers Of America, said tonight that
he would issue a call for Joint peace
conference with the mine operators
within a week. That peace in the coal
fields is in sight was indicated by the
mine chiefs when they adjourned their
conference here late tonight.
All Of the district presidents departed
for their homes in this state, Ohio and
Indiana, expressing the conviction that
the end Of the four months controversy
with the operators is near and that
within thirty days the men will be back
H. the mines.
Lewis and Philip Murray, viee-pres-
idcnt, will remain in the city for sew
eral days formulating the call and the
plans for the joint conference agreed
on In the meeting.
Want to Get Coal Moving
There Is not much 70 tell yet be-
y5nd the fact that there will be a call
for tho joint conference" said Lewis,
"hut what will result cannct fore
cast. The situation grows brighter
every day and We all want 70 get coal
moving"
The conference approved long let
ter from tho eonferees TO Governor
sproul. protesting against the calling
out Of the militia TO aid in opening
tho mines. II had been said after the
Wednesday session that the mine
chiefs discussed the militia question
in a casual way but that they had not
taken serious stand on IL. The let
ter TO Governor sproul is headed ];
"Emphatically protesting against tho
presence Of state troops In the mining
regions Of Pennsylvania" The presi-
dents Of tho FIVE mining districts Of
the state signed II, together with the
international officers present
When the meeting broke up the let
ter was given out for publication and
Lewis said:
"we feel that this Is an unfortunate
thing. but the letter stands for itself
We know that a settlement Is az hanC
and that tho state might have beer
suared the expense Of sending th'
troops 10 the coal regions and the
troops themselves spared the diseom
futures and the loss Of time from theil
business entallei by the response e
the call o. the Governor.
strike Is won," Says Lewis
"The strike is won. There will be M
wage reduction. This fact Is recog
nized in financial and industria
centers. II remains now only TO cal
/ the Joint conference"
"Have you any definite information
as 90 the percentage Of tonnage ina
will be represented by operators wh'
/ will attend the eonference| he wa
asked.
IL cannot say az this time how much
tonnage will be represented. We dc
know that there will be sufficient 20 dS
business when the miners representa-
tives gather with the operators" saiC
Lewis. Suffice IL 10 say that there
will be a conference. II once we gc'
together there is good reason TO be
lievc there will be settlement OF th'
I DISPUTE within thirty days"
"Wul the Fields group Of Pittsburgh
/ he represented in the conference or d'
YOU expect them 70 stand pat on theil
/ rcsuSa. to sanction sueh conference :
ws The next question. .,
81 N4HN
be represented,o was the reply. There
/ IL talk Of this group and that group re
I fusing TO enter conference with I'M
miners. We know how much truti
there is I'm the statements ana know
pretty we'll what groups VIII DC repre-
scnted." -
"Then you believe the success OF I'M
| Joint conference is assured
Il cannot say what viii happen.
can say that there will be conference
and that our purpose Is to get th,
mines operating as soon rs possible
Bhuminous Issues Up First
The plan Is said 70 be 20 take vi
frst with the operators the cause o
the bituminous miners. lheir como,
ton for years has been one OF nara
stip In some districts mines nav,
not been operated more than mont
or two in The year. The men and thei
/ families lived on the verge OF starya
ton. II Is said that in the session
Yesterday the anthracite men an
nounced they were willing 70 mar
time while the btuminous situatiol
was thrashcd out.
The anthracite men OF the thre
| Pennsylvania districts are sure thei
will obtain the wage scale as OF Marc
81, when they stopped work, lney ~
sist that the bituminous miners snh,
have the scale as In effect on marc
3f. and that there shall be modihea
tions OF the working conditions whie,
will preclude the suspension OF wor
for ten months at any bltuminou
nine.
WASHINGTON. July 27.-Ofieials o
the National Coal Association SAID 20
night that they had been authorite'
by Alfred W. Ogle, president OF Una
organization, 10 deny any report ina
meeting Of operators OF the "eentra
competitive feld" was in prospect iook
ing 10 an end Of the soft coal STRIKE
Association officials said az one OF IN
final meetings OF coal operators
Washington recently the subject wa
thoroughly canvassed, with the decisio
that no move would be made In IN
u