The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-01
LEWIS CALLS
Mine WAGE
CONFERENCE
Union President Issues Invita-
tion to Operators of Central
Competitive Field to Meet
Miners Representatives.
HOPES FOR SETTLEMENT
fBv Associated Pressl

tBy Associated Press)
PHILADELPHIA Pa, Aug. j. - A
joint wage conference of operators and
miners of the central competitive bit
luminous fields, to be held in Cleveland
next Monday, for the purpose Of nego-
tiating basic agreement designed to
terminate the present coal strike, was
called today by John L. Lewis, inter
national president of the United Mine
Workers.
President Lewis also summoned the
general policy committee of the union
to meet in Cleveland at the same time
for the purpose of acting promptly
upon developments as they occur in
the joint wage conference. All men
will remain on strike until an agree
ment or a definite understanding is
reached.
The following telegram was sent to-
day to the operating interests in the
Central competitive fields, which in
cludes western Pennsylvania, Ohio, In
diana and Illinois.
u1Ad0ClpAldb august L, 1SGZ.
In behalf of the United Mine Work
ers, / am herewith inviting the coal
operators of the Central competitive
field to meet in joint interstate con
ference at the Hollenden Hotel, Cleve-
land, Ohio, at ten o'clock a. m, Mon
day, August Z, 1922, for the purpose
OF negotiating a basic wage agreement
designed to terminate the present sus-
pension in the mining industry l ex-
press the sincere hope that the inter
ests represented by you will find it
possible to participate in the joint
negotiations.
(Signed) John L. Lewis,
President, United Mine Work
ers of America"
Makes Statement.
In connection with the call for the
Interstate conference, President Lewis
gave out the following statement:
IN issuing an invitation to the coal
operators OF the Central Competitive
Field to assemble in joint conference
in Cleveland on Aug. Z. / am actuated
by the highest considerations of pub
lie welfare and the impelling necessity
for an early adjudication of the issues
involved in the bituminous and anthra-
cite coal fields.
This strike, unparalleled in its
magnitude, is now in its eighteenth
week, and constitutes an industrial
convulsion which menaces the financ
/, ial and social fabric of our nation
Aside from the tremendous persona
sacrifice so bravely endured by the
mine workers the strike is exactins
penalties from every citizen of oul
and and is clogging the channels o.
commerce and disturbing the realm!
Of finance and credit throughout tht
civilized world. Its effect will continue
to be felt long after its termination
and the burden will fall heaviest upol
hose least able to bear it.
viii Try Again.
In consideration of these facts, an
Notwithstanding the powerful position
Of advantage now enjoyed by the min
workers, we have resolved to again al
tempt to assemble a conference wher
passion will be allayed and reason pre-
dominate. We are able to fight in
definitely, but such prefer the pursuit
Of peace to the ills of industrial wal
fare. We feel that the American pull
ice will support our offer to meet a
the conference table and will encoul
age the corporate interests involve
70 have their representatives present
The making of basic settlement il
The central competitive field will pei
nit of an immediate following settle
ment in all of the outlying bituminou
coal districts and should pave the wa
for an immediate adjustment in tn
anthracite coal fields as we'll. Such
result will be acclaimed by every cit
zen. Those who block the success c
such a conference by refusal to pal
ticipate should. therefore, be made t
bear full responsibility for the COZ
tinuing situation.
1T is expected the makeup of tn
conference will follow as nearly a
possible those of other years. Th
} miners probably will be represente
by eight men from each of the fou
states. The representation of the OF
orators will depend upon the numbe
that respond to the call. 1t has bee
repeatedly stated by leaders of til
union that a conference would b
called as soon as assurances were ha
that sufficient tonnage would be rel
resented to make possible basi
wage agreement"
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. Indian
operators will not attend the confe
ence called at Cleveland by PresideI
John L. Lewis of the miners uniol
for negotiation of a wage agreemer
for the central competitive field. d
clared Martin L. Gould, president
the Indiana Bituminous coal operator
associs ton. He added that no porto
of the Indiana field would attend tt
conference, and said the operators p
sition was unchanged. The Indiar
operators, he declared. would me,
only with the miners of Indiana.
Ia MI AnIKA0 uIIIER