New-York tribune., 1922-07-27

L. Lewis, president Of the union, and
the presidents Of three anthracits
and four bituminous districts in
Pennsylvania, Indiana and Ohio.
just how or when such con-
ference is to be arranged has not
been made clear, although it was re-
ported after the meeting that def
mite action might be taken tomorrow
looking toward the opening of ne
gotiations.
Wire Reveals Overtures
This first indication from the
miners union of readiness to talk
peace after four months Of idleness
came in a telegram sent by John
Hessler, president of the Indiana
miners, to Governor McCray of In
diana. It said;
I'VE are contemplating issuing calf
for an interstate joint conference to
settle the coal strike, but are uncer<
tain as to the amount of Indiana ton.
mage that would respond Indiana may
be the only obstacle In the interest
of Indiana citizenship suggest thas
you W your influence to encourage
Indiana operators attendance and as
certain if possible what tonnage will
respond to such call. Please advise
what operators will do"
Mr.. Lewis, when asked whether any
overtures had been received from ths
operators that might indicate weak.
ening in their ranks, replied:
II cannot say there has, but yoo
never can tell from day to day what
may happen in a situation like this.
There is one thing to be said, and that
IS, that our lines are as closely drawn
to-day as they were on April /. when
the anthracite men suspended work.
There may be developments to.
morrow"
Union Proclaims Victory
After the conference Mr.. Hessler said
with an air of confidence:
The strike is won for the miners,
The business now is to get together
and agree on the terms. | expect there
viii pc call for joint conferences
with the operators. That done. there
will be settlement of the trouble in
IhIfty deEs- a.a not saylnv what the
terms will bel do not know what they
Will bc-bytt l an sure they will be
satisfactory to US.
Il know that the operators of Ohio
and Illinois are ready for the confer
ence and that some OF the operators
OF Indiana also are ready to end the
struggle. | know, further, that a corr
siderable tonnage in Pennsylvania is
represented by those of the operators
here who are ready to enter the cons
ference with US. 1t may be there will
be decision in our own meeting to-
morrow to issue the call You can
say the miners have won the battle"
Opportunity Alone Lacking
After the conference there were indis
cations that the principal thing lacking
was an opportunity to confer with the
operators. 1t, was suggested that if the
operators themselves or some one else
in authority would suggest meeting,
the miners would be in position to
accept without being forced to take the
initiative themselves.
In this connection it was recalled
that Governor McCray, to whom Mr..
Hesslcr's message was directed. few
hours earlier in the day had telc-
graphed President Harding suggesting
that the President cali together the
Governors Of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
and Pennsylvania to consider ways OF
obtaining peace in the mine strike,
The Illinois settlement may come sep.
arately. according to advices from Ste
Louis, because the executive committee
of the miners union for that state de-
cided to meet in Peoria August tu
consider peace proposal put up to
them by Illinois operators. This1is the
hrst step toward negotiations in Hi.
nois despite the fact that Frank Far.
rington, president of the union there.
has been at odds for year with Mr.
Lewis.
What Miners Want
The indications after the meeting
here to-day were that Mr.. Lewis might
be considering going into conferences
with the operators on a settlement
BASIS that would include continuation
OF the old wage scale that expired
March 81. the recognition of the United
Mine Workers as an organization and
an Improvement in certain workina
conditions.
There have been reports for several
days that plans for meeting of miners
and operators were under consideral
tion. The hints dropped after tha
meeting here were supported by twd
statements issued in Ohio to-day, acl
cording to advices from Cleveland.
William Roy, vice-president of thd
eastern Ohio district Of the union, iu
an interview at Bridgeport, Ohio, LED
it be known that to-day,s Philadelphia
conference had to do with plans for 3
peace conference. C. j. Albasin, COM,
missioner for the Pittsburgh Vein
Operators Association of Ohio, ana
nounced that his organization stood
ready to enter conferences with ofA1
cia!s- Of the United Miue Workers
sesrsss a. 4