The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-07-15
OFFICIALS HOLD LAST CONFERENCE
 AT WHITE HOUSE No Hope Expressed For Ac- ceptance of Harding's Peace Plan-0peratorS
 May Accept
By Associated Press

Washington, July 14.--A practical certainty existed tonight that the United Mine Workers of America will refuse President Harding's offer of arbitration to settle the coal strikes, both bituminous and anthra- cite.
 John l. Lewis. president of the union. William Green, secretary treasurer. and Phillip Murray. vice president. left final conference at the White House with President Harding and Secretary Davis late today determined. It was understood, to recommend refusal of the gov ernment's offer to the union policy committee which will meet here to- morrow
 The expected refusal. it was said, will apply to the anthracite mines as well as the bituminous, although employers in the anthracite region have accepted the Presidents offer practically without condition. The union viewpoint Is that the an- thracite fields. with their potential production of 2,00o,000 tons of coal a. week. should not resume work. be- cause this coal supply, along with non-union production of bituminous. would lessen public pressure for strike settlement
 Might Take Over Mines
 The only light cast on the govern ment's possible further course was a White House declaration today that President Harding felt no doubt he had power to operate tile mines in an emergency. The Pres- dent might run the risk of impeach- ment in taking such q course. it was indicated. but he was said not to fear such possibility under exist ing conditions.
 The union officials who have re- mained In Washington since the break-up of the general coal con ference. have made their position plain to officials, Tn demanding first of all that arbitration as offered be made to apply to the semi-unionized fields of West Virginia and ennsyl- vania, where production has been only partly crippled since the strike. They have further asked for it's ap- pllcation in Washington state. and in Mingo county. West Virginia.
 They were satisfied tonight that the 9overnmet eiithef cannot er will not. force mine owiif gs now predne- ing coal in these territories to come under the edict of ths proposed eed- eral wage fixing body. and are con sequently disposed 10 let the strike go forward until the situation is changed.
 Employers May Accept
 There also is union objection to submitting. certain union policies, es- pecially that of the checked by which it's dues are collected through the mining company lay rolls. to such arbitration.
 Bituminous employers. although their answer is not expected to bs filed until Monday. and the unions formal answer may also fail to ap- pear before then, are expected to accept the arbitration offer at least conditionally.
 Meanwhile the geological survey reported today sharp drop in coal production in non-union bituminous fields, fixing the total output the week of July 4 at 3,6s0,000 tons, while for the present week, the fig ures are not expected to be above 4,000,000 tons. This compares with a high point of 5.500,000 tons reached by non-union production since tho strike. The railroad labor troubles. which have shut off almost com pletely one or two of the non-union areas and crippled car supplies in others. is held responsible. The sur vey estimates that consumption is about S,000,000 tong of bituminous per week.
 Union spokesmsn declared that tho present situation Is Bringing about a shortage period in the coal supply, that prices will continue to rise and remain high, and that the mine own CTS can pay the old wage rate, or even an increase.
 The meeting of representatives of non-union coal operators with Sec retary Hoover. scheduled for today, to discuss means of surbing moun-i ing cosl prices. in some sections vast postponed until the early part of next week.