Evening star., 1922-08-12
GOVERNORS OFFER
COAL PARLEY AID
Executives of Two States
Ready to Help as New Dif-
ficuIties Arise.
HEADWAY AT CLEVELAND
Miners and Operators Continue
Wage Draft Through
Committee.
HEADWAY AT CLEVELAND
BY the Associated Press.


CLEVELAND. Ohio. August Eff
forts of the joint subscaie committee
of coal miners and coal operators to
reach an agreement permitting re-
sumption of coal mining were resum
ed today, while the governors of two
states were standing by awaiting de-
velopments with a view of possibly
lending a hand toward effecting set
tlement of the soft coal strike.
Although some obstacles had been
encountered by the committee. spokes-
men for both the miners and the oper-
ators agreed that progress had been
made. while the governors, who had
been advised as to the committee
work, said they were convinced that
there are no insurmountable difficult
ties in the way Of a speedy and just
settlement to both Sides Cows. Davis
of Ohio and Groesbeck of Michigan.
who Joined in the statement, were
considering whether to ask governors
of other coal-producing states to meet
here with view of swaying the for
tunes of the conference.
Future Negotiations.
The chief question at issue before
the committee today was further con-
sideration of what provision should
be in a new wage agreement for fu-
ture negotiations between the miners
and the operators. Ohio operators on
the committee had suggested an ar
bitration commission, while the min
ers had declared disapproval of any
such board unless limited to purely
an advisory capacity. In this discus
sion is developed that the consensus
of opinion in the committee was that
any wage agreement should remain in
force only until next April l. In the
past year the wage agreements for
the soft coal industry have run for
two years.
Anthracite Terms Possible.
Aside from the committee work
dealing with the soft coal strike, in
terest among the miners was turned
to the prospect of an early resump-
ton of negotiations with anthracite
operators over a settlement of the
strike in those fields of Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Lewis indicated that settle<
ment with the anthracite operators
might be reached Independent of the
negotiations for a settlement of the
soft coal strike.
Preparations for reopening coal
mines in Belmont county, Ohio, were
reported to be under way. Extra
maintenance and repair men were at
work cleaning the mines, and mules
have been brought in from the pas
lures. Two hundred striking miners
in the Powhatan and Pipe Creek field,
in the southern part of the county
started a march yesterday to the col
lieries when a report was circulated
that the mines were to be reopened
with non-union labor. They turned
back when deputy sheriff explained
that the activity at the mines was in
anticipation of a settlement of the
strike.
Operators Withdraw.
The joint negotiations of the COM
mittee struck snag in beginning the
morning session. The operators with
drew for separate caucus. at which
it was understood they discussed their
demand suggesting arbitration OF
some other means for effecting future
settlements. No concrete plan, it was
said. had been offered at the commit.
tee meeting by the operators.
Frank Harrington, the Illinois
miners president, who did not attend
the committee session yesterday, after
serving notice that he did not regard
any contract made here as a four.
state agreement, rejoined the COM
mittee today. In explanation Of his
position, Mr.. Harrington made this
statement:
"The unqualified statement that
have refused to sign a four-state
agreement is enemy propaganda. AS
a matter of fact, at the time the
story was circulated the miners and
operators had not been able to get
together on any kind of an agree
mcnt However, i did tell my as
! sociates on the subscale committee
that / would not sign a four-state
agreement embracing Illinois with
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