New-York tribune., 1922-03-05
Miners Declare
Strike Issue Is
Up to Operators
Coal Men Are Said 10 Have
Given Whip Hand to the
Workers by Their Refusal
to Confer With Them
Cite FrelingFuyscnSpcech
Consent of Three States to
Meeting Called Negative
Because Of Stipulations
By Gilman Parker


speculation concerning the prospects
Of national coal strike now centers
in the question Of whether the opera
tors of the central competitive field
will meet with representatives of the
Unite3 Mine Workers in an effort to
effect new agreement for the btu
mnous fields.
As the result of the declaration Oh
Friday of John L. Lewis, president Of
the mine workers, that negotiations
for separate state agreements would
not be tolerated, the next move in the
situation is plainly up to the opera
tors, and they are expected to make
anal and definite statements within
the next few days as to their inten-
tions.
Thus far the operators have twice
refused to meet the miners. with the
most stubborn attitude in the matter
maintained by the operators Of Penn
sylvsnis. The FIRST occasion was prior
TO the miners convention in Indian
apoiis. when the refusal was based
chiefly on a contention Of the mine
owners that they had heard the miners
attended TO ask for wage increases.
Present Wage Satisfactory
This surnise proved incorrect. how
ever, the miners contentng themselves
with demanding continuation of the
present scale--and their threat Of
strike was not even made rigidly co,
+ingent in this connection, it should be
aeted, but upon a clause specifying
failure to reach an agreement"
Nevertheless. the Pennsylvania ore.
ators again fatty refused q meeting
Just after the convention, declaring
they stood fer considerable wage re-
ductions. "Left-handed acceptances'
were given the miners by the operators
OF Ohio, Indiana and lllionis, bat ss
these were based on provision that
the entire central competitive field be
represented at the meeting, they we're
accepted by the miners as tartamount
10 refussls. The Illinois operators
played little side game of their own
IN leaving the door open for separate
settlement in that state, attempting to
AXE advantage of the bitter fight being
weged between Lewis and Frank H.
Fsrrington, leader of the Illinois min
ers. This move apparently was check
mated by Lewis on Friday.
Several days ago President Harding
took hand in the situation for the
'lrst time. He let it be known. through
members Of the Cabinet and other
ieast the operators could do in an ef-
tort to avert so serious matter as a
national coal strike would be to meet
he miners and discuss the existing
differences across table.
Miners Gain Sympathy
Thus. as the situation now stands.
nc miners possess a consider bile stra-
segic advantage. Not only do they ap-
pear as most willing to meet the oper-
'stors IN an effort TO obtain an am cable
adjustment. but they are prepared to
enter such conference armed with a
set of demands which permit consid
cradle range in the matter Of bargain
hg, and the extreme limit of which Is
not even slight increase but the
preservation of the current scale.
On the other hand, the operators
nave two refusals to 'sit down and talk
over chalked up against them, both
confessedly in violation of a clause
- the present agreement providing for
y meeting prior to March 81. In ad
dItion, action considered arbitrary in
Inc light of previous procedure has ,
neen taken by number of the Penn
,sylvanis operators in posting notices
"a their mines that wages would be
cut from 80 to DO per cent beginninp
April l.
should they now come forth with
tnird refusal the bulk of favorable pub /
lie opinion would be extremely likely /,
10 turn to the cause of the miners. il ;s
pointed out by disinterestcd observers.
especially IN view of the intervention
for peaceful settlement by the Presi-
dent OF the United States. These oh. |
servers arc confident that the operators
VIII be made to see the wisdom of ac !
quiescenee to the Presidents request
y only for tactical reasons, and that
IN announcement they will meet the /
miners will be Forthcoming in day |
or two.
Conference Reid Vital
1T viii be good business for the op-
orators If all they do is to meet the |
rniners, bow politely and walk out,
was the way one observer put l.
They can't afford not to meet, no mat
'er what the results or lack of results
of the conference may be-"
~ was stated freely during the In
annapolis convention that the reaching
& an agreement between the anthra-
cite operators and miners would be
much simpler than the etfecting of a
cbntract for the soft coal fields even
should the hard coal situation go to the
extent OF suspension Of work, and
ftptning has occurred since to change
tAis likelihood materially.
representatives of both sides have
agreed to meet in New York City on
sua4Sh 10, ana DRltle or statements
Nss been launched meanwhile in an ef
tert to win public opinion.
& Miners State Position
zone OF these, received YESTERDAY
from the miners, reads, in part, as fol.
ipws:
Ex-senator Frelinghuysens speech deal.
ing with the profits of the anthracite
companies and railroads Is conclusive
Evidence that defstion should start
Yith the operators, and not with the
naaers. The operators fix the labor
esHst OF ton of anthracite coal at
1892, and they receive wholesale. (. o.
YmInes, .s6.15 for pea coal, s7.s5 for
stove coal, s7.95 for nut coal and $3.50
pr egg coal. People in New York
philadelphia and elsewhere in the an
snfscite-consumlng territory pay as
ugh as SIC ton for coal, which is
syer $l2 a ton more than the labor cost
y 1892. Therefore a more substantial
ieduction can be made in the cost OF
pal by cut in the pro-ts made above
he 1892 labor cost
hlhe statement also gives the Anthra
Ute Coal Commission RS authority for
NE declaration that "the wages of the
anthracite mine workers arc NOT In