New-York tribune., 1922-08-15

Lewis, president OF the United Mine
*orkers es America. The anthracite
mines, like the bituminous, have been
escsed since April l.
Chairman WARMERS telegram to
sir Lewis said:
"on behalf of the anthracite opera
ters, extend to you cordial invitation
te sacct US in conference with View TO
an early resumption of production in
the anthracite field. l suggest Phila-
delphia as suitable place for confer
eEoe and August Is as a convenient
time.
"0ur conception of the conference is
that we should meet for friendly dis
eussion of the whole situation. includ
ing such specific proposals as either
OF US may desire to submit. We are
glad, however, TO express in advances
our confident expectation that we can
devise in conference method of wage
adjustment such that upon our agree
ing to il we shall be able then to take
the men back at the old wage scale until
such adjustment actually takes place.
we are moved to send this invita-
ton not merely by our own desires,
but because the President of the
United States has communicated
through Senator Pepper an expression
and of his hope that you will accept.
Let me assure you that our invita-
ton is sent without any underlying
reservations or conditions, in full as
sGrance when we meet we can work
oat result ar once protective OF the
public interest and satisfactory to the
raine workers. We bespeak your ac-
ceptance in the same spirit. An early
telegraphic reply will be appreciated"
Lewis Accepts Invitation
President Lewis's reply said:
"On behalf of the United Mine
Workers, as represented in the anthra-
cite field, | am most pleased to accept
the cordial invitation which you have
extended to me to meet with the an
tfracite operators in Philadelphia on
August TO-"
President Lewis, with Vice President
Philip Murray, of the mine workers,
was preparing tonight for a resump-
ticn OF work in the hard coal fields
within the next ten days.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 14.--Mr.
WARMERS action in telegraphing Mr.,
Lewis followed conference yester-.
day with Senator George Wharton
Pepper, Governor Sproul, w j. Rich
ards. president of the Philadelphia &,
Reading Coal and Iron Company, and
William A. Glasgow jr., counsel for
the United Mine Workers.
At this meeting, it became known
toeclay, Senator Pepper read letter
from President Harding, in which the
President declared that further delay
in. the resumption of mining would
mean danger of nothing short of ma
tiqn-wide disaster"
Harding's Letter to Pepper
PresidentSHarding' letter to Sena-
tor Pepper paid:
~ am told that Mr.. Lewis has in
dicated Willingness to confer with
the anthraeitey operators in case they
notify him to do so. suggest to
you, as the Senator from the State
most directly concerned, that the
operators will lbe acting in the pub
lin interest If they promptly send
him a cordial Invitation to attend a
conference to be called by them at
such time and place as they may
choose. with view to the imme-
dinte resumption of production in
the anthracite field l feel justified
in making this suggestion, because
these operators have manifested
throughout a spirit of cooperation
withs the administration in seeking
q falr basis. upon Whlch to ADJUST
The anthracite strike.
II understand that as a basis of
conference Mr. Lewis stipulates for
return of the men at the old wage
scale and the acceptance by the
operators of the so-calIed Shamokin
proposals. In extending their in
vitation l hope the opera tors VIII
indicate their Willingness to take the Z
men back at the old scale till COM
mission or other agency has had an
opportunity to examine into the
whole situation. AS ITO the Shamokin
proposals, / am hopeful that Mr..
Lewis will regard Them as proper
for consideration at the conference
rather than subjects of commitment
in advance. | am hopeful of this r
because L credit both operators and
miners with sincere desire to re-
sumo anthracite production, and l
am sure that neither will place any
unnecessary obstacle in the way of
their adjustment.
Early Conference Advised
"As to the time, | hope that the
conference will take place in the i'm
mediate future.
'No time is to be lost. Even if
production is resumed at once, the
future consequences of past delays
must necessarily be serious, but if
there is any further delay we shall
be in danger of nothing short of
nationwide disaster.
"As to the place, there may be
advantages in meeting somewhere
in the anthracite region rather than
4 in Washington.
"The mayors of several of the
n important cities in that region have
.y,{ 1,1
sentiment among their people in
favor of prompt settlement. 1t may
be that in such an atmosphere the
prospect of quickly reaching fair
adjustment would be bright. This,
of course, is point to be determined
by those who issue the invitation"