The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-07-22
COAL Mines
ORDERED
RE0PENED
Harding Tells Opera
tors to Resume Min
iag Of Coal hen
Miners r reject Arbi-
tratiOn

tratl0n
washington, July 7-Bitunai-
nous eoas nine operators were in
vited, by Presidcnt Harding at the
White House today to return to
your mine properties and resume
operations after they had replied
to the president S tender of arbitra-
tion for settling the national coal
strike witha collective offer TO put
their properties and their services
at the disposal Of the government
ssin this crisis
S. Speaking as chairman of the
group OF operators after the White
House conference. Alfred NJ. ogie
said the employers would make
the attempt to resume operations.
Meanwhile, the miners union.
through an adjournment sine die
of its controlling policy committee
made certain its refusal to accept
the arbitration proposal and many
of its officials Immediately left
washington. The bituminous OPP
orators we're likewise not unit III
accepting the government arbitra-
ton proposals, but the president
said that "a large majority of them
by unqualified acceptance, had CIV
sen him occasion to -express my own
ana the eSpubiic's gratitude.
s. There were intinations in official
circles that all the implications of
the decision TO ask that the mines
he opened had been fully consid-
erred by the government. and that
there was a possibility that the pro-
section o. troops and the Ameri-
Scan fag would be furnished I'm dis
triets where men were willing TO
work, failing sufficient local safe
guarding. Employers generally
held the view that some coal pro-
duetion would result in union
felds In Pennsylvania and Ohio. if
nowhere else. even though execu-
tives OF the hon union mines south
Of the Ohio river reported today
that output was being cut off rapid
threngh lack OF transportation
due to the railroad strike. .s 8.
A day and night of almost con-
tinueuss sessions did not suffice to
rake the bftuminous employees a
unit Tor acceptance Of the detail
ed arbitration proposals OF the gov
sernment, even though anthracite
operators last week had given quick
acceptance. On final vote a. gen
seral letter, accepting the principle
OF arbitration and making the ten
der Of mines and services, was
agreed upon and presented to the
president
A delegation consisting of is ep-
orators took the message to the
4 White House. and after their visit
s statement explaining the proceed
ure was given out as well as the
text Of the presidents response.
In the district actions referred
to. the delegates of employers from
the associations in Illinois, the
Southwest all territory represent
ed west of the Mississippi, and the
Pittsburgh vein operators and other
associations Of Ohio voted for an
unqualified acceptance OF the pres
ident's arbitration plan.
Indiana state associations stood
Qua against the plan. Pittsburgh
producers associations in Pennsyl-
yania and the associations in cen
trail PENNSYLVANIA operating union
lied mines, with some support from
Ohio districts, presented memorials
which we're reflections of the pres
ident's plan.
Payment of the wage scale exist
ing April last and the continuance
+ of the check Off system OF, col
iecting union dues while arbitration
was in progress were points raised
by the minority. One or two op-
orators IN central Pennsylvania
withdrew from their association
because Of their snsistence that ar
bitration should be accepted un-
quatidedly
All minority spokesmen offered
to accept arbitration on district
basis.
President Harding saw Chairman
Ogle and William Field, the latter
representing the Pittsburgh asso-
citation. prior to the fna, decision
and Secretaries Mellon and Hoover
attended the conference The oper-
ators met again after the final
White House Interview to discuss
their future course.
Secretary Weeks went to the SEN
ate late in the: day. wilileathe op-
orators were still in session, and
discussed with senator's from coal
states the situation and the pos
sible steps which might be taken
by the governments in the .emer-
gency..
President Harding's statement to
4 the operators was as follows:
Gentlemen:
II have your decision. / would
rot be frank if / did not confess a
disappointment of yot.r lack OF un-
aninlity. To the large majority OF
you who have pledged readiness
to resume activity under the gov
ernment's proposal. must ex-
press my own and the pubhc's graf
itude.
we have now reached a point,
owing TO the refusal of mine work
ers and the minority Of your oper-
ators 10 accept the proposed arbi-
tration, where the good offices OF
i the government in seeking a vol
l,ntarv adjustment of the dispute