Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-08
SAY ALL RESTS
ON EMPLOYERS.
Lewis Declares Union
Will Accept Invi-
tatiOn.


Of America are hopeful" that a strike Of
bituminous coal workers April 1 may yet
be ayerted, but in the same breath they
admit there is little ground for hope that
suspension Of operations will not ensue
upon expiration OF the present wage
n agreement three weeks hence.
"The whole thing rests with the oper-
ators," one union official said today, ex-
planning If the mine owners, now d.
vided by the refusal OF certain groups
to enter into negotiations with the min
ers, once get into conference with the
intention Of concentrating an agree
ment, speedy adjustment can be made
and a cessation Of mining operations
avoided. Thus far, however, there has
not been the slightest indication Of any
intention Of the operators to recede from
their stand pat attitude"
'No conference, no agreement; no
agreement, then a strike" was the way
President John L. Lewis Of the mine
workers summed up the situation.
WOULD ENTER CONFERENCE
IF CALLED BY DAVIS.
President Lewis issued q statement in
which he declared the mine workers will
enter a conference with operators OF the
central competitive field, III such a
conference is called By Secretary Of La
Dor Davis"
The international executive board of
the mine workers ratified the articles Of
alliance between the transportation and
mine workers union. The action was
taken by unanimous vote Of the members
Of the board. Formal notification of the
action OF the mine workers will be fled
with E. J. Manion, president Of the Or
der Of Railway Telegraphers, who is sec
retary OF the alliance.
dispatch from Washington indicates
the operators and miners have failed to
respond to the invitation OF President
Harding that they meet IN conference
before April 1, despite the statement Of
President Lewis that an agreement to
conference has been our attitude all
along and it Will c0ntiuue=to be our po-
sition" The Lewis statement indicates
20 invitation has been received.
II the statement Of President Lewis Is
to be taken as a response the question OF
whether a conference will be held ap-
pears to rest with the operators.
READY AND WILL BE
TO MEET OPERATORS.
The United Mine Workers OF America
viii enter a conference with the operators
OF the central competitive field If such
q conference is called by Secretary OF
Labor Davis, the Lewis statement says.
That has been our attitude all along.
and It will continue to be our position.
I'VE have been ready ever since this
controversy started to confer with the
operators In an effort TO reach an agree
me1t, and the only reason this has not
happened IS that certain groups Of opef-
atOrs have fatty and bluntly refused to
meet with the miners, although they
agreed in writing IL New York on March
81, 1920, that they would so meet prior
to April l. 1922.
''The miners do not want a suspen-
sion Of work on the first Of April and
We shall continue to do what we have
done from the start, and that is to put
forth every honorable effort to avert such
a suspension. 1t is quite evident, how
ever, that these groups Of balky oper-
ators are determined. if possible, to force
a suspension Of coal mining operations
and bring discomfort to the American
people. The miners hope that the pub
Tic will not lose sight Of that fact which
stands out so prominently in the entire
affair. If such 4 suspension occurs it
Will be through no fault Of the miners.
HELD RECOGNITION
THAT DEMAND JUST.
when President Harding directed Sec
retary of Labor Davis 10 call on the coal
operators TO meet the miners in joint
conference, he recognized, in behalf Of
the Government, the justice OF the min
ers' demand that the operators live up
to their written agreement. He recOg-
nlzed the refusal as being an assault
upon the fundamental principles of bust
ness morality, which require every busi-
ness man or corporation to fulfill his
obligations. 1t is only the dishonora1 Die
business man who refuses to respect his
own contract. So President Harding and
the Government has given full sanction
and approval to the principles Of colIec-
tive bargaining between employer and
emplOye.
There is one thing certain and that
is a new agreement must be made before
april 1 II a suspension is to be avoided
And a new agreement cannot be made
unless operators and miners meet in joint
conference and work II out"
telegram has been sent by William
Green, secretary treasurer of the miners,
to Frank Harrington, president Of the
Illinois miners, insisting that no district
conferences be held with operators, but
that the miners insist on a national con-
ference. The telegram is given as the
expression Of the international executive
board. The message follows:
The international executive board Of
the United Mine Workers OF America.
which is now IN session in this city. has
given consideration to kilograms which
passed between you and International
President Lewis regarding a separate
joint meeting Of miners and operators Of
Illinois. The board was greatly surprised
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