New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-11
r n ry
Both Sides Virtually Ger.
tain to Agree. to Imme-
diate Opening, of Mines
and 3-Party Conference
Union Commission
Called to Capital
Workers Insist M any
Operators Are Missing:
Want Them Summoned

WASHINGTON, July 10. -Accep-
tance by the coal miners and oner-
ators Of the plan proposed by Presi-
dent Harding to-day to settle their con-
troversy seemed virtually assured to-
night, although no official acceptance
has yet come from either side. The
PRESIDENT lntervened in the nation
wide coal strike with a proposal which
is expected to reopen the mines in
time to assure q sufficient supply for
the coming winter.
Recognizing that the miners heads
and operators representatives called
into joint conference here are hone
lessly deadlocked on how to proceed
toward ending the strike, the Chief Ex-
ecutive put before them a plan which
amounts to a virtual ultimatum. His
demand calls for an immediate return
to work of the 100000 striking miners
at the wage scale in force when the
strike began last April / and negoti-
alton OF q new superseding scale by
an arbitration commission to be named
by the government, the miners and the
operators.
Difficulties Stand in Way
There are few difficulties which
stand in the way of immediate settle
ment. Of outstanding Importance
among these is the assertion of the
miners chiefs that the operators
called here represent only part of the
production tonnage of the fields af-
fected by the strike. 1t was learned
only tonight, after the ban of secrecy
on the deliberations had been lifted by
the President after the issuance of his
proposal, that this has been the chief
point of contention between the op-
orators and miners in their unsuccess-
full meetings so far. President John L.
Lewis Of the United Mine Workers and
his district presidents have held out
that about 2C0,000,O00 annual tons of
production have had no voice in the
conferences, it was said, and they are
now expected to demand that the cab
sentee operators" be called in before
they give final consent to President
Harding's proposal. Formal action or
the part of the miners must await the
assembling here of the general poll.
cies committee Of the United Mine
Workers, whose 1913 members were
summoned to meet in Washington next
Saturday.
President Harding's proposal, made
in the form of letter which he read
follows:
"The information has come to me
that your conference is deadlocked, OF
at best attempting to agree on plans
which will require extended time to
work out. l have said heretofore that
the government prefers you who are
parties to the dispute should settle il
among yourselves, because you bes;
understand all the problems involved
The government cannot settle it fol-
you. 1t will force no man to work
against his free will; it will force nc
man to employ men against the free
exercise of an employers rights. The
government will not be partisan, but
the government is concerned with coal
production sufficient to meet the indus
trial and transportation requirements
of the country and to safeguard against
a fuel famine when winter comes
again, and it is desired to have pro.
duction resumed at once.
Government Wants to Help
"Your government does desire to be
fore, l submit to you the following
proposal:
"Mine workers are to return to work
on the scale of wages which expired
last March 81, and mines now idle be.
cause of strike or suspended operation
to resume activities without interefer.
ence with activities of mines now
working. The 1922 scale to be effee-
tive until August 10, 1929.
"A coal commission to be created at
once, consisting Of three members Sc
lected by the mine workers, three
members selected by the miner oper-
| ators and five members. to be named by
the President. All decisions by this
committee shall be accepted as final
"This commission to determine, if
possible, within thirty days from TO-
day for the miners on strike a tenn
porary basic wage scale, which sale
shall be effective until March |, 1928
In event that the commission is unable
Continued on next paee)