New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-01
AK Popular Mandate for
Continuing War Wages
fiji Apr, 1924, as Price
of Anthracite Settlement
Meet Tomorrow
For Final Decision
acceptance of Terms and
immediate Resumption
of Production Forecast
-, ,,s,vs1tnh ~ The Tribune

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 81. Anthra-
1 ~ operators took the first step to-
1 wsrd surrender to the demands of the
JIrlsed Mine Workers to-day when they
;ss,.es request for a ''public mandate"
4 s Justify the payment of the old wage
scals until March 81, 1924. which is one
ssar beyond the date to which they are
e;,,ine 10 make a contract on their
ovn responsibility.
/ adjournment Of the operators con-
ssserce was taken just before the
s.stsment was issued The producers
wili meet again at 10 o'clock Saturday
negning. Then, If the operators are
satlshea that that mandate has been
4 elsen. the terms of.sfhe miners viii be
net and the hard coal suspension will
I be ended.
Put Problem Up to Consumers
phrasing Of the demand for man
date il such that all those in touch
with the situation consider the strike
I Is nov virtually settled. In effect, the
oserstors say they will continue the
4 old wage rate until 1924 If there is a
4 public necessity for coal. They demand
! SIso an urgent request for coal from
/ public authorities.
A feature of the statement is that it
/ rseks TO obtain popular approval OF
i present high coal prices for the length
i 81 the contract to be made with the
4 miners. So far as the plan Of settle
4 nent IS revealed in the state ment it
4 constitutes complete victory for the
United Nine Workers.
Settlement Of the controversy is Ger
i tain 10 Tar as the miners are concerned.
4 Tn peace basis advanced by Senator
i pegper In conferences in Washington
i iast Taasday involved no conee ssions
4 f,y sha miners The second year Of the
wage tentract was the only real issue
4 hssweea tas operators and the men
4 Now that the operators have indicated
Willingness to extend the contract
4 for two years instead of one, there is
4 every indication that the whole dispute
! viii be cleared up Saturday. The
] miners involved number 155,000.
4 The arbitration issue was raised by the
4 operators to meet the miners demand
1 for long contract, but this point was
4 dropped at the Washington conferences
4 whsn the miners indicated unwilling
q ness to consent to arbitration in any
Il form. -
4 Text Of Operators Statement
The statement issued by the opera
/ tors to-day said:
We are faced with demand for a.
4 continuation Of war wages beyond
4 April !, 1928 fn order to bring about
j an immediate resumption of mining we
4 have reluctantly agreed to continue the
A cla wages until next April, but we
rave not felt that We were justified in
4 gong further than that
i The bituninous miners have gone
4 fscx to work under the old scale until
4 aext April. The anthracite producers
Know Of no reason why their men
sheuid not do the same thing, and want
Il 70 oe entirely satisfied that conditions
warrant longer period of the old
u wages Tor anthracite miners.
Il 10 continue the war wages beyond
i nexl april Inevitably carries with it
A eoaslnuation Of present prices. The
] uei'c mas protested against buying at
snese prices longer than is absolutely
4 necessary The n@ ournment taken to-
gay vas to enable che operator9 to can
q sass the situation and 20 obtain, if pos
i asoie' tne views of others as to condi~
slons which would be fair to all par
~ soncsFhed, not forgetting those
4 ao m buy the product.
y the public necessities for coal
sau .ne Urgent request OF public au-
y ,,,S,;sles raS.;s aIe such as to induce us to
S0aslaae ,ass the old wages beyond April
4 lssS. this demand must come to us
4 Mi = sae form Of E public mandate. We
g AZ. AZ. sghlorfn our action to such man
-, sss wy no other reason would i'm
i rh;,s s, Is g enter into an agreement
d tbs asn wi WI continue for longer than
A wh,rb bssshs a, emergency coal prices to
4 been made ss''oH mas atreaoy
u y inc announcement that the
y t0eatinss6 on nsss passl