The New York herald., 1922-08-09
OPERATORS BALK
Indiana and Illinois As
sociati0ns Refuse to
Attend Cleveland
Conference.
PART PEACE AIM NOW
Lewis Considers Settlement
To-day With Scattered
Mine Owners.
OGLE BLAMES PUBLICITY
Says Chance of A 9'rcemcnt Is
Diminished, if Not Killed,
by Forcing the Issue.

CLEVELAND, Aug. 8 (Associated
Press). Expectations Of a settlement
Of the soft coal strike on a national
scale vanished tonight among the
union officials and operators here for
joint conference on peace plans with
the receipt of reports of the failure OF
Indiana and Illinois operators assoc
Citations to agree TO join the confer
ence. The hope, however. was held
out that settlement affecting scattered
mines in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and
Pennsylvania and possibly western
Virginia may result from the confer
ence, which reconvenes here to-mor-
row afternoon.
President John l.. Lewis Of the
miners announced that the joint con-
ference would reassemble to open ne
gotiations. The question Of whether
the miners would be willing to- make
a wage agreement with the operators
now here was undecided. and indica-
tions were that a decision would be
deferred until after the afternoon
meeting tomorrow with the operators
most OF whom own mines in Ohio. 4
few operators also are here from
/ Pennsylvania. Indiana and Illinois.
While the number Of operators here 70,
the conference was increased to day. NJ
official poll had been taken of the Goa
output controlled by them. and in it,
absence the union head deferred deci.
sion whether to proceed with a partia!
peace program.
Confidence. however, was expressed
by some operators and union leaders
that the number of operators willing 10
make settlement was sufficient 70 in
sure n break in the strike. Some West
Virginia operators were expected to join
i'm the conference, their representatives,
already being here.
The Indiana operators refused to join
the conference and the Illinois operators
committee adjourned until tomorrow
without announcing final decision. The
action in Illinois was regarded by some
Of the conferees here az indicating the
possibility OF more Illinois operators
coming to the conference. No one had
come from operators In Mississippi soft
coal fields but their attendance was re-
garded as doubtful.
Mr.. Lewis declined 10 comment on the
action in Indiana and Illinois. After
receiving word from Alfred NJ. Ogle.
president Of the National Coal Associa-
tion, that the Indiana mine owners
would not participate in the conference.
the miners president merely announced
that the joint conference would recon-
vene tomorrow according TO schedule.
TERRE HAUTT, IND, Aug S-The In
diana Bituminous Coal Operators A.
ISOLATION VIII not attend the Clcve.
land conference called by John J..
Lewis. president Of the United Mine
Workers, i'll was announced after 4
meeting of the scale committee here
to-day.
A. NJ. Ogle. president Of the National
Coal Association, who also Is an In
diana operator, said he would not )
to Cleveland, and in statement said
that hope of a settlement at Cleveland
had been diminished II not killed by
undue publicity and the attempt 20
force operators into the Cleveland con-
ference"
The scale committee. however. ind
Gated that the plan had not been aband-
oned as possible basis for negotiation.
Phil RI. Penna. secretary Of the In
diana operators. declared the operators
from this State would not 20 to Cleve-
land and reiterated the offer to meet
the miners in a State wage conference.
The whole membership OF tne dsso@id-
tion has been called to meet here Fri
day. Mr.. Penna said. but declared the
meeting had been arranged before the
Crews-Glasgow plan Of settling the
strike had been brought forward.
The Crews q lasgow plan, which oper-
ators say is the one on which Mr.. Lewis
based his assertions that the coal strike
would soon be settled, was discussed at
the scale committee meeting, but no
action was taken. Sentiment among
the Indiana operators Is still strong
against n four state wage conference
with the miners. according 60 Mr.. Penna.