Evening star., 1922-07-16

Lewis Plan Prevails.
Yesterdays proceedings OF thu
policy committee of the United Mine
workers of America, with 150-odt
union spokesmen attending, wen
forward like clockwork on the piar
Mid down by John l.. Lewis. presi-
dent Of the union, and other nationa
oficers. and plainly forecast on pre-
yious days. Recounting the history
of bis negotiations with the govern
ment and the employers. expressing
his dissatisfaction with the terms OF
the arbitration OFFER. Mr.. Lewis In
executive session offered lengthy
letter of refusal of the arbitration
and moved its adoption.
Delegate after delegate behind the
closed doors of the executive session
gave his views, and James L. Lord
vice president OF the American
Federation Of Labor, In charge OF the
mining division Of the central unior
body, sat with them. The vote IN the
end for the adoption of the lettei
was unanimous.
A committee then took the letter
20 the White, House, and saw the
President briefly. The following state
ment was given out after they left
THE President met the policy COM
mittee of the United Mine Workers
and received the written declinatior
70 accept the voluntary plan proposed
for the settlement of the dispute
which is responsible for suspendins
mining activities. There will be nc
announcement Of any government
plan to relieve the situation until the
response of the bituminous operators
10 received. 1t is expected to have
their report Monday morning. The
President did not comment to the
mine workers committee on the de-
cision reported. except to say that
he hoped they fully. appraised the
responsibility they assumed in de.
clining the governments offer of a
means of instant adjustment and the
resumption of mining"
Attack Owners' Representative.
The scale committee of the union
for the anthracite meeting at ar
earlier meeting refused for them
selves 10 accept the arbitration offer
but Joined with the general policy
committee deliberations.
For substantial reasons, the repre-.
sentatives of the United Mine Work
ers are compelled to withhold their
acceptance of the arbitration pro.
posals submitted by you" the letter
to the President said "s The
mine workers desire to point out tina,
the coal operators who have been In
attendance at the recent conference.
assembled by you, and to whom yor
have submitted the plan for arbitra.
tioD of the coal strike. are only par.
tally representative of the producing
inter ests affected by the present sus
pension of mining. Operators repre-
sentine nearly SO per cent of the ton
mage in strike fields where production
is stopped have not been in attend
ance, and we have no In
formation that the proposed plan o.
arbitration has been submitted Il
them by any governmental agency.
No Intention ef Agreeing.
we are further advised that thes,
Interests have no intention OF coming
within the purview of the provisions
OF your plan of adjustment. Under
such circumstances II is futile to be
love any general settlement can b
made. 1t Is manifestly unfair to at.
cnpt to exact from the mine work
Frs representatives commitment Il
In arbitration plan. while 1T the sam.
line powerful operating interests
Employing hundreds Of thouaands OF
nen now on strike. are left free tt
ollow their own selfish impulses and
|scape liability In the premises. 80 I
wen the acceptance Of the plan by
he mine workers would bring abou,
My Z partial settlement"
This was the crux Of the union op-
psition to arbitration, Mr.. Lewis and
htionai ofacials. In conferences Will