The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-17
No DECISIONS BY
THE B|TUN|NOUS
MINE OPERATORS
WILL TRY CAUCUSES
OF DISTRICT GROUPS
Disagreement In Sund a y
Nights Meeting As to the
Presidents Interpre-
tatlOnS.

WASHINGTON July l6.-R!tuminous
coal mine operators who met here TO-
night 20 consider their answer 10 Press
dent Harding's offer OF arbitrator IN
the coal strike controversy adjourned
until II a. m. tomorrow without action
Alfred VI. Ogle, chairman OF The oper-
otors' group, said that It had been founo
necessary for the employers represen-
tatIves 20 concur separately by the ols-
tricts from which they come. before try
ing 10 sc, a Joint expression OF op'n:on.
President Harding's letter defining
the terms OF the original arbitration or
fer had raised some new points and oc-
cassioned some dtsa reement among the
operators as to It's meaning Mr.. OGle
added, In addition. yarious sections, or
the miners union letter declining aroi-
tration has raised issues which caused
rome Of the employers 70 reconsider
their conclusions.
Miners Reject offer
The response Of the miners union
declining the offer was made 10 fTesi-
dent Harding Saturday while anthracite
operators had previously announced
their acceptance leaving the hitum!nous
sroup the only one OF three parties
whose position has not been formulated
Whether the h!tuminous operators
could come 10 an agreement tonight was
NOT known, and Il was considered likely
IN all quarters tina; further decisions or
tho zovernmcrt would not hc made pub
lie until their answer had reached me
president.
Ono influential group among the bit
luminous operators was advocating
complete acceptance Of the presidents :
proposal In advance Of the formal ses-
sion Though concedinE 70 the argu-
ment their associates that tho govern
ment's offer hat raised many difficult
ties in the indus'rv. spokesman advocat-
inS this disposition ot the arbitration
proposal said that II would leave tho
employers In a good light before the
country and IN a position to join sym
pa athetically with any further move the
administrator might desire TO make.
Pittsburgh DISTRICT View.
Contrasting with this was position
OF pittsburgh district employers who
contended that acceptance OF national
arbitration was impossible tor them
though district arbitration would nc
acceptable 20 all employers. Thete was
a suggestion hero that no formal an
sver shrould be made to tho Presdenr
covering details but that the refusal OF
the miners 10 arbitrate should be taken
as nnal. and ths employers should sim
nlv announce their desire 70 cooperate
with the government in any new en-
daavor, or grarple with the task OF
openinr mines now closed by the str'k"
on a non union basis
There were all forms OF intermediate
views expressed. and in addition. an IN
s,stent suggestion that the employers
nlace their mines And working organ
izations directly at the disposal OF tho
government.
This last course was based on mo
frequently advanced suggestion that the
government take over the mines To
date there have been no official state
ments that such step was being con-
templated except IN the ultimate emer-
gency.
w. NJ. W. Officers Remain
Officers OF tho minors union held
| In Washington for a meeting OF the gen
eral policy committee tomorrow with
held comment today. There was an
! impression that John L. Lewis. president
Of tho organization desired 10 have ali
his associates on the ground. Hhoud.
the prcsiGent desire 70 advance any
further proposals than the arbitration
offer which the union refused yester-