New-York tribune., 1922-03-16
Hard-Coal Mc,,
Meet Jointly
On Wage Scale
Miners Demand Increase
and Operators Decrease
at Conference Which
May Last Six Weeks
April Shutdown l. Seen
Workers Declare That Gains
i'll Pay Have Met Only
Half of Rising Costs

Anthracite miners and operators
opened their joint conferences yestcr-
day in the Hotel Pennsylvania. They
nope by these to effect new wage
and working agreement for the hard
coal fields. Presentation Of the miners
demands, with explanatory addresses
concerning them, occupied all of the
initial session.
though 1t WAS apparent that both
sides entered into the negotiations in
friendly spirit, little hope was neld
that suspension IF work will be
averted April /, since the present
agreement expires March 81, and as it
is expected that it will require at least
SIX weeks to work out new agree
ment. If one can be reached
Following the routine of previous
procedure, John L. Lewis, president of
the United Mine Workers, opened the
first meeting. Then w. L. Connel,
president Of the Enterprise Coal Com
pany. was elected permanent chairman.
IN addition to MIR. Lewis, miners lead
ers who spoke on the demands were
William J. Brennan, Thomas Kennedy
and Chris j. Golden, president of the
olAeu aHtHTdCllo OlSJrlctS OF the
miners organization.
The meeting ad djourncd until to-mor-
row; meanwhile the operators will meet
and study the demands. They would
make no statement, but it was indicated
they will counter against the miners
CHIEF demand, for an increase, with the
contention that wages should be cut.
Assert Wages Have Jagged
Al
ers gave out lengthy statement ana
lying their demands. With regard to
the wage question, this read as follows:
an explaining the demand for a 20
per cent increase on contract rates and
81 day for day men, it should be borne
III mind that contract miners since 1916
have only received an increase Of 65 per
cent in their wage scales, whereas the
living costs have doubled and remained
so for number Of years
"tt will thus be recognized that for
the past several years the wage rates
of the anthracite mine workers have
actually failed to keep pace with the
rising cost of living. As a result,
losses have accumulated from month to
month during the time that the oper-
ators, the wholesalers and the retailers
have enjoyed profits in excess Of any
tning they have ever hitherto known"
Concerning the demand for extern
sion OF the eight-hour dav to include
all classes of mine workers. and for
establishment of the "eight-hour day
underground" for inside day workers.
the statement contends at is n blight
on the industry whore men are com
PEELED to work ten, twelve and four
teen hours n day, ana they insist this
is one important grievance that must
be remedied during the present ncgo-
tiations.'
mand for prohibiting the making of
individual contracts, is directed against
establishment of the vicious sub con-
tracing system" The demand for uni
formity in rates is explained by the
contention that "ths is necessary for
the peace and stability Of the anthra-
cite region"
Union Officials Present
In addition to the miners officials
already named, those taking part in
the negotiations for the union are
Philip Murray, its vice president;
George lsaacs, Enoch Williams, John
Boylan, James Gleason, John Ruane,
John Weiss, Thomas Davis, Alex Camp
Andrew Mattey. E. X. Ferry, John
1,
Gallagher. Michael Durishin, John
Dougherty, William Costello. John
Lukovich, James Gildea, Charles
Thomas, Joseph Wall, John Strambo,
James J. McAndrcw, John J. Mates,
Thomas +. Davis, Owen Crossin. P. T..
Sweeney, Richard Tobin, James Coonan
and James f. May.
Among the leading operators were
samuel D Warriner, president OIL tne
Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company;
": }. Richards, president of the Phila-
delphla and Reading Coal and Iron
Company; c. r. Huber, president of
the Lehigh and Wilkes Barre Coal
Company; John NJ. Humphrey, prcsi-
pany; Daniel P. Wentz, Michael Gala
ghcr, Allen c. Dodson, w. A. May, w.
Fl. Williams, A. B. Jessup, +. H. Hemel-
right, George w. Robertson, l.. C. Ma
deira, James b. Neale and Fred E.
Zerby.
WASHINGTON, March Is. - Secrc-
tary Davis, of the Department Of
Labor, who has represented the gov
ernment in all matters concerning it's
policy in the threatened coal field
strikes. left Washington tonight for
New York. 1T is understood he will
get in touch with the coal situation
there.
No action was taken o-day by gov
ernmcnt agencies most concerned with
the prospects of a strike in the btu
minous fields. Officials also withheld
comment upon the protest against the
creation of comm ssion to settle "a
bituminous wage scale, which was tele-
graphed to Mr.. Davis by Frank Far
rington, president of the Illinois Dis