Smyrna times., 1922-08-09
SETTLEMENT OF COAL STRIKE
PRETTY MUCH UP IN THE AIR
LOCAL AND STATE INTERESTS
KEEN; COAL SUPPLY DWINDLES
Strike Pact Hopes Vanish At Cleve.
land.-Delaware Coal Commission
Organizes For Business

organizes FOR BUSINESS
Expectations of settlement of the
soft coal strike on a national scale
vanished last night among union of
ficials and operators at Cleveland,
Ohio, for a joint conference on peace
plans with the receipt of reports of
the failure of Indiana and Illinois
operators associations to agree to
join the conference. The hope, how
ever, was held out that settlement af-
fecting scattered mines in Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania and
possibly West Virginia may result
from the conference, which reconvenes
this afternoon. President John L.
Lewis of the miners, announced that
the joint conference will reassemble
to open negotiations. The question,
however, of whether the miners will
be willing to make wage agreement
with the operators was undecided, and
indications were that a decision would
be deferred until after this afternoon
meeting with the operators most of
whom own the mines in Ohio. A few
operators also are there from Penn
sylvania, Indiana and Illinois. The
settlement of the bituminous strike
would bring, it is declared a quick
settlement of the anthracite strike.
Delaware Gets Ready to Meet Crisis
The Delaware Coal Commission, re-
Gently appointed by Governor Denney
held its organization meeting in the
rooms of the Chamber of Commerce
in the DUPONT Building Wilmington
Monday with Chairman Leon Walker
presiding. The commission arranged
rules and regulations under which coal
will be distributed, perfected organi-
zation and arranged questionaires
covering registration of those in vari-
Gus classes designated by the regula-
tions. Organization was effected as
| follows:
Leon Walker. chairman. Wilmington.
Henry p. Scott Jr.. treasurer. Wilmington.
Robert ID. Kemp, commissioner for vii,
mington and vicinity.
John E. Walker. Commissioner for VIII
4 mington and vicinity.
Jesse L. Shepherd, Middletown, for lower
| New Castle county.
Charles B. Wilson, Dover. for Kent county.
Garrett S. Harrington. Harrington. for KEN
county.
L. Lee Layton. Jr.. Georgetown, for SUSSEX
county.
Hon. John C. Townsend Jr.. selbyvine, fol-
! Sussex county.
The members of the commission en-.
tered very fully into all phases of the
coal situation and their duties in the
premises as far as it was possible 81
to do in view of the situation as i
confronts them in the State at thi.
time. Thecommission will adhere rig
idly to the rules and regulations a.
adopted by the Federal Fuel Admins
tration and the commission.
Canning Houses In Need OF Coal
One of the industries now in need O.
coal is the canneries of Delaware
Some of them are entirely out of coal
with their busy season at hand, ant
Mr.. Walker will try to get a suppl!
at once. Under the Federal plan pro
posed, all coal is to be distribute,
through the Commission, and from
one distributing point, instead of be
ing shipped direct to industries tina
get priority rights. By this metho,
close check is to be kept on tn
, rationing of fuel. Mr.. Walker say
the outlook for an adequate coal sup
ply for household use in the fall an
winter is far from bright, because o
the miners strike. Chairman Wake
went to Washington Thursday to con
fer with the Federal Compassion a
to the duties of the State Commissio
and discuss with the Federal official
such other matters as will have to d
, with the distribution of COAL. MI
Walker stated that he would endeavo
f, if possible, to secure immediate ship
I, ments of coal for essential needs o
the States industries.