New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-15
Nav Ash Harding 20 Act
Union League club Confer.
cncc Adjourned When
Wen Attempt To Dictate

The miners committee attending The
anthracite wage scale conference at
Dc Union League Club refused ycstcr-
Law 20 entertain thc proposition of the
orcrators that the wage controversy
be submitted 20 arbitration by com
rittec TO be appointed by PRECEDENT
Harding.
The operators declined 70 proceed
w.th the negotiations except on inc
h.sif of such arbitration, and The CON
ference was adjourned without date
"a .or another meeting. though 10 was
minated that they might ask tne
President 90 intervene.
4 sr.Le vote has been aut, orizol on
the question OF calling out the main
frnarcc mon. II will hc then ~
shamoMn. iazleion and Come .stilie'
Pa. ard nill bc completed June ~
Maintenance Strike Certain
Rcprescntatiycs on both sides said AZ
the close Of the conference that me
break IN negotiations makes Nrlkc
inevitable. thereby bringing 60 den.
mite issue the present suspension OIL
mining In the anthracite regions
There are about 5000 maintenance men
now protecting mines worth millions
OF dollars.
The miners reply was submitted NJ
the afternoon session 81 the confer
encc and was addressed 90 $. ID. War.
r.rer. chairman. ". l.. Connell and
William English. Il offered 20 arrange
for a settlement II the operators would
accent che e.ght-holr day. give com
plete recognition o. the union ana take
existing rates OF pay ps n starting
point for future del.bcration.
Tho rejection was made on ne
grounds that the operators standards
which they proposed 20 nrbitrate n'-
umed that labor was commodity
th,t the consideration OF human stand
ards had been precludci, that no safe
gunrds had been afforded against un-
f.ir prccedeuts. and that the nafump-
ton that the rates 81 pay he deter
mined according 90 changes in factors
affecting the demand or supply o. labor
were unacceptable TO the union.
Yien for Price Cut, Too
The miners also declared that they
were in accord with their employers ~
their contention that the price oi coal
should Doe reduced; but, after citing me
operators refusal 20 join with the
miners in seeking q Federal investiga-
I ton Of all factors affecting the price
Of coal. they rcnsscrtcd their conten-
ton that the present rate OF wages
could be maintained and az the same
time allow the prices Of coal 10 be low
cred.
aside from the inequitableness -
considering reductions in wages with
out az the same time considering the
| effect OF other elements o. cost and
profits affecting prices Of coal 90 the
| consumers. we cannot said the miners
I In their reply, agree 20 any basis OF
settlement which might reduce the
earning possibilities OF the mine work
ors. as their earnings under e~isting
-a.cs Of pay are sufficient only for a
bare standard o. subsistence Tor them
selves and their families.
"They feel that they should be en-
titled 20 q savings wage. the necessity
for which IN general has been 50 e.
fectively set forth by President Hard
ing and Secretary Of Labor Davis IN
public statements
Tho reply WAS signed by John L..
Lewis, president Of the United Workers
/ OF America, ramp muIIhls VICE -llto-
ident. and the three district presidents,
Thomas Kennedy. c. T. Golden and W.
j. Brennan.
The operators said:
at is evident from your reply 70
our offer Of unrestricted arbitration
that YOU are not willing 20 further ne
gotiatc with US nor 20 submit the
matters ia controversy 90 a tribunal
appointed by the President unless the
principal question 10 be determined,
namely. wages. is only TO be considered
by revision upward.
1T would have been just and reason
able H. in making our arbitration pro-
posal we had stipulated that only a
downward adjustment Of wages should
/ be considered
"You make the further stipulation