The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-08-08
TO END
COAL STRIKE
is PREPARED
Definite Program for Settle
ment of Walkout In Bitum-
nous Fields Will Be Pre-
sented Wednesday.
is URGED
(By Associated Pressl


CLEVELAND, Ohio, Aug. S.-With
a definite program for ending the
soft coal strike, ready for considera-
ton tomorrow, the joint conference
OF the leaders of the striking union
miners and coal operators today mark
ed time awaiting the expected arrival
OF other operators, especially those OF
Illinois and Indiana In addition, op
orators were expected from several
other states scattered over the soft
coal fields, for the program contem
plated settlement on substantially
a national basis.
No sessions of the Joint confer
ence were held today while there were
several informal meetings of both op
orators and union officials, their in
terest was centered largely in Chi
cago, where operators were expected
to determine who would attend the
conference tomorrow.
President John L. Lewis of the min
ers, as were leaders among the oper-
ators, was optimistic regarding the
probability of settlement, which, if
accomplished, would be followed al
most Immediately by the union ask
ing anthracite operators to renew the
wage negotiations that were broken of
in June after several weeks of fruit
less effort toward a settlement. Mr..
Lewis has expressed the opinion that
this week will see the end of the bi-
luminous coal controversy.
Program in Brief
In brief, the program for settlement
called for re-establishment of the wage
contracts that expired last March 81,
the eve of the beginning of the tie-up
that has continued more than four
months, and also the creation of an ad-
visory commission of inquiry. through
whose influence it was expected that
/ disputes would be settled without
| strikes.
The re-established wage contracts
would continue in force until next
April l. and meanwhile the commits
! sion would draft recommendations for
/ future contracts. The 'check-off'' sys-
! tenn of operators of collecting union
dues would remain through the re-es-
! tablishment of the old contracts, and
there would be no change of working
conditions
| Mine union leaders and operators
who had gathered here for the joint
conference said they had assurances
| that number of prominent operators
| of Illinois and Indiana would have del
egates here tomorrow, it being expect
ed that the Indiana delegation would
include A NJ. Ogle, president of the
National Coal association. Additional
representation from Western Pennsyl-
vania, also was expected, and it was
said that some Iowa, Missouri, Wyom-
ing and other operators were already
on their way to this city.
! Sworn to Secrecy
The expectation of the break among
the Indiana and Illinois operators who
had opposed the interstate meeting as
q means of effecting a settlement
icaused the conference here to recess
Yesterday until p. m. Wednesday.
/ Members of the conference were
sworn to secrecy on account of lead
ers being fearful that announcement
of the definite plan for settlement
might lead to complications, resulting
lin the non-attendance of operators now
absent.
After the existence of the plan be
came known. the leaders apparently
lost none of their optimism that the
conference here would reach a settle
} ment covering, in part at least, prac
ticaIly every soft coal field where the
union is recognized.
The conference was called primarily
to cover only the old central competi
tive field comprising Illinois, Indiana
J Ohio and western Pennsylvania
: which has been the basic unit of wage
: bargaining off and on since 1885 anC
| almost continuously since 1898.
Question To Be Decided
Predictions today from both side:
of the wage conference were that in
: terests outside the old field woulC
participate in the discussions start
ing tomorrow Among the question!
to be decided in addition to the prin
cipal one of adoption or rejection o
the general program for settlemen
was whether a single wage agreemen
, would be accepted for all soft Goa
fields or whether one would be mad,
for the old field alone with separat
contracts being drawn on the basis o
the central field contract for the out
; lying districts.
Though the strike may be settled o.
nationwide scale there is expects
, to remain several thousands of miner
still on strike The largest numbe
would be in central Pennsylvania,
partly unioniZed field where many nor
union miners were shutdown by wall
I outs that marked the development o
the strike.
: These miners are those in Fayette
l Somerset and Westmoreland countie
1 of Pennsylvania The strike also woul
be continued in western Pennsylvania
where the largest coal company in tn
I central field is not expected to pal
, ticipate in the conference here. Like
! wise the miners in southern Obi
! would continue fhe strike
I The failure to bring about a settle
! ment for these districts, union offiC
D ials said might lead To a prolonge
S controversy there. In this connectio
: II was pointed out that with the retur
to work of miners in other parts c
s the country the union would be abl
: to finance the strikers not affected b
! settlement
"a 80 A