New-York tribune., 1922-04-06
neOWners
Reject Plea
10 Meet Net,
Indiana and Ohio Soft
Coal Operators Vote for
Rejection of House Plan
for Conference Apr. 10
stumbling Block
In Ohio Remains
congressman Consider
DaugherIy's Proposal
of ''Hands-Of" Policy

w AadIssS-N,u SilcV
WASHINGTON, April 5.-Not a
single acceptance was received here
to-day from any of the coal operators
OF the proposal made yesterday bv
Representative Nolan, chairman of the
House Labor Committee, that the op-
orators and miners hold Joint wage
conference in this city on April 10.
Associations representing the largest
operators III Indiana and Ohio rejected
the proposal outright while Pitts
burgh district operators and those of
ILLINOIS promised to answer tomorrow.
The Indiana operators said thew
would not go into such a conference
unless the entire competitive field,
comprising western Pennsylvania, Ohio,
indiana ard Illinois. were represented.
The Ohio Colleries Company, largest
lndivlduai coal producing concern in
the state, replied through it's chairman.
George NJ, Jones, who said:
NO doubt you are aware that the
operators and miners of the four com
petltive states have met in Joint CON
terence for some years to agree upon a
laoor scale. Both the operators and
miners have been indicted and are be-
ing prosecuted by the Attorney General
OF the United States in the United
states District Court at Indianapolis
/ for holding these conferences. Until
this case is decided it would not be
proper for US to attend any similar
conferences. In the mean time we arc
willing and anxious to meet the United
Mine Workers of Ohio to negotiate
new mining scale. Anything you can
90 to bring such q conference about
VIII be appreciated"
Favor Subdivision Conference
Members of the Pittsburgh Vein
Operators Association, at a meetin@
| IN Cleveland, turned down the request
through Michael Gallagher, president
of the association, who said in mes
sage to Mr.. Nolan:
I'VE do not consider it to the best
interests of the district to meet in the
manner which you propose, and there
! fore are obliged to decline. Never
; theless, we are willing, if the regular
tour scatcs' conference cannot be ar
ranged, to meet with the duly author
lied officials of the miners union to
negotiate wage scale for our own
subdivision"
Mr.. Gallagher pointed out that Chair
man Nolan's request, at the suggestion
Of John L. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, for a confer
ence of operators in the central COM
petitive field, "exclusive Of western
pennsylvania and southern Ohio" was
"a departure' from the unions original
position. Mr., Lewis's announced posi-
tlon heretofore, Mr.. Gallager pointed
out, was against a meeting other than
the entire central field.
The southern Ohio operators long
have been termed stumbling blockS
in the way of joint conference be-
| tween operators and miners. 1t was
| the refusal of the southern Ohio op-
orators last February to participate
in a joint meeting with the miners
that widened the breach between the
two sides.
Denies Refusal by Union
The scale committees of the three
Illinois coal operators associations
will meet in Chicago tomorrow to de-
eide whether they will meet union rep
resentatives April 10, as requested by
the House Labor Committee.
Following UP the overture it has
made toward settlement Of the btu
minous coal strike, the House Commit
tee on Labor continued it's hearings
Ci CtiC ouoJSSI tO-uay ny COHSiueIlHS
briefly Attorney General Daughertys
| statement of last night outlining for
the Administration "hands off" policy
for the present.
Representative Bland, Repblican, In
diana, whose resolution to direct the
/ President to appoint coal inquiry
commission occasioned the Labor Com
mittee's interest in the matter, read
Mr.. Daugherty's statement into the rec
ord, and upon learning that President
Lewis Of the United Mine Workers had
left the city called to the witness stand
John Moore. Legislative representative
of the union in Washington.
"Mr. Daugherty says, after declaring
that the operators were wrong in re-
fusing to confer with the mine workers
in an attempt at settling the strike
issues in advance, that the United Mine
Workers officials themselves refused
last fall or some later time to confer
with the operators for the same pur-
pose" Mr.. Bland said. "Now, has
there ever been time when the United
Mine Workers have refused to open
negotiations with the central compet-
tive field operators for new wage
scale after April l. in accordance with
their agreement
"No, SIR Mr.. Moore replied. "There
never has been refusal by the union"
Chairman Nolan gave notice that it
would continue tomorrow, hearing OPP
orators and miners from the central
| Pennsylvania fields discuss the strike
| and related matters.