New-York tribune., 1922-08-27
Men Won't Operate Mines
Taken Over Until Their
Demands Are Met, but
Are Ready to Negotiate
Emphasizes Danger
I'm Anthracite Field
90 Per Cent Of Workers
Underpaid, He Insists; !;
Refers to Steel Raise
Special pfspatch to Ths Tribune


PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 2s.-Govern-
ment seizure Of the anthracite mines
will not cause the miners to return
to work unless satisfactory wage
agreement is first negotiated with
them by the government. That, in
substance, is the gist Of statement is
sued late to-day by John L. Lewis,
president of the United Mine Workers
of America.
His exact words are: "If, in order
to save an imperilcd citizenship, gov
ernment seizure of the anthracite coal
deposits and operation of the mines
become necessary, the mine workers
will hold themselves in readiness to
negotiate a satisfactory wage agree
ment with such governmental repre-
sentatives as may be charged with that
responsibility"
Mr. Lewis in his statement, charges
the operators with bad faith in not
really trying to reach settlement
with the mine workers representatives
and in Offering disguised form of
arbitration. Turning to the situation
which confronts the miners, Mr.. Lewis
said: seThe wage rates in the anthra-
cite industry are already as low as
they can be made. Approximately Sc
per cent of all the men employed in
and around the anthracite mines are
paid by the day and receive compen-
sation that is totally inadequate.
Toll of Life Heavy
"The anthracite mines every year
exact an appalling total of men killed
and manned. An average of 500 men
year are killed outright. More than
10000 are mangled and manned to
such degree that most Of them are
unable thereafter to follow their em-
ployment."
Briefly sketching the dangers that
serted the action OF the government in
the contemplated seizure of the mines
will meet with universal approval. He
bitterly scored the attitude of the op-
orators, whom he termed RELENTLESS
and unyielding-a small group of finan-
ciers who dictate the policies of the
operating heads in the anthracite in
dustry."
In conclusion, he said: 1.-THE $4,000
anthracite mine workers for the last
five months have made every honorable
effort to terminate this unhappy situa-
tion. They can not and will not agree,
however, to any arrangement designed
to beat them backward and degrade
their status as citizens. In the light
of recent developments in the realm of
industry, the time has passed to talk
Of decreasing wages below the present
mediocre standard"
This is taken to refer to the recent
% SAN% w.
poration increasing the wages of Its
employees 20 per cent.
Davis Appeals to Warriner
SO far as this city is concerned other
principals in the anthracite situation
are inactive over the week end. A
meeting between s. D. Warriner, chair
man of the operators committee, and
Secretary of Labor Davis, at Mr.. War
riner's summer home in Binghamton,
N. Y, is being watched with interest.
1t is understood that the Secretary will
ask Mr.. Warriner to abandon his atti-
tude of Indifference, adopted since the
breaking UP of the recent joint confer
ence with the representatives of the
mine workers, and make one more eff
fort to reach settlement in the con-
troversy.
Senator Pepper. who is regarded in
some quarters as the official mediator
of the Administration in the present
crisis, passed yesterday opening the
Republican political campaign at Allen
town and Perkaise. He will return to-
day to his summer home at Devon,
where he is expected to confer with
members of the operators committee.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, to
whose presence here some Significance
had been attached in connection with
the strike, left the city to-day for
Washington.