The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-08-12
Climax in
Hard Coal.
Strike Near
Developments in Anthracite
Walkout Predicted Within
Week by Spokesmen
for Administration.



anthracite coal region would "eome
10 . climax In less than q week from
today" was made at the White
House by q spokesman for the ad-
ministration. No comment. however.
was forthcoming as to what develop
ments were expected.
The administration spokesmen fur
ther declared that President Harding
considered the anthracite operators
"the scouts" the government has
dealt with during the present indus
trial troubles. ], was added that the
president believed that the anthracite
operators had not and would not OBJ
struct q settlement in their territory.
How soon negotiations to end the
suspension OF wo,k in the anthracite
fields might be expected. was not re-
vealed by officials, but the opinion
was expressed that . settlement had
been delayed because OF negotiations
pending in Cleveland for termina-
ton Of the bifuminous strike.
Delays justified.
Both parties to the controversy in
the anthracite field were said, in the
presidents opinion. to be justified in
postponing their effort. to bring about
m adjustment because of the activi-
ties in the bituminous situation.
Secretary Davis declared that the
country faced a shortage of anthra-
cite coal which could not possibly be
made up within the next year. There
was a shortage Of at least 100000
tons, according to the latest reports |
conveyed to him by officials in touch |
with coal production, he added. Suf-
ficient bituminous coal to establish |
the normal surplus quantity usually !
on hand could not be produced be-
fore next April at the earliest, Mr..
Davis said
The central coal committee will
not hesitate to refuse priority orders
for fuel which do not conform with
the Hoover fair prices, Fuel Dis
tribu Spencer said.
Cout11et to April /
Cleveland, Aug. ll.-Any contract
that may grow out of the conference
here Of soft coal operators and
miners probably will continue in
force only until next April l, it was
indicated by decision Of the oper-
ators- miners point subscale com
mittee on the general terms of an
agreement. No final decision on any
question wassreached but the date
for expiration OF the contract was
brought forward in considering |
what board or commission might be
created to arrange for future nego-
tiations. Past contracts have run
for two years, expiring on March 81.
Operators on the committee de-
clined to make public their proposal
for future settlements. but were rn-
derstood to have suggested arbitra-
ton and in this respect met with the
flat refusal Of the miners. The union
leaders, however. were said to ap-
prove fact-finding commission OF
purely advisory powers.
Progress Reported.
Although opposition to negotiating i,
an interstate agreement, which might
might fix mining rate of wage for
Illinois, was raised by Frank Far
the Illinois miners presi-
dent the adjournment Of the commit
tee was marked by Michael Gala
CHER. heading the operators, declaring
I'VE have labored hard all day and
feel WEI are making progress" while
President John L. Lewis, heading the
miners, added that he was as optim-
istic as ever over the prospects OF ,
reaching an agreement. l.
Mr.. Harrington, sponsor OF single
state agreements for ending the
strike. was understood to have noti-
fled the committee that he would not
be bound to settle with Illinois OPP
orators on the basis Of any agreement
that may be made here. while Mr..
Lewis answered that the question
arising from the Illinois leaders
stand was one for the unions policy ,
committee.
The stand BY Mr.. Harrington in
the committee, and a notice from
Illinois operators that they would
not attend the conference, were not
regarded by Mr.. Lewis as an obstacle
to a<settlement. . .ss HA