The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-04-06
HOPE FOR PEACE
In MINE STRIKE
Lewis Accepts Invitation
by Government for Con-
ference Soon.
MINERS ARE DIVIDED
Some Strikers Agree to Attend
Conference While Others
Refuse Olive Branch.
(By Associated Press Leased wire.)

(By Associated Press Leased Wire.)
Interest in the coal strike conferred
today in the efforts of the house labor
committee at Washington to bring
about a conference of operators with
the miners looking to a settlement of
the walkout which has affected more
than half million of the nations coal
diggers. Assured by John L. Lewis,
president Of the miners, that the latter
would negotiate with any representa-
tive group of operators in the central
competitive field, event though not all
could be induced to deal again with the
union. Chairman Nolan, of the COM
mittee invited representative operators
of that field to meet here Monday with
union leaders. While awaiting replies
to the invitations the committee today
continued hearing witnesses in its in
vestigation of the coal industry.
Call Meetings Thursday.
Scale committees of operators asso-
Citations in Illinois, Ohio and western
Pennsylvania, which are included in
the central competitive bituminous
area, today announced meetings for to-
morrow at which decision would be
made on the labor committee invita-
tion to confer.
President Lewis was in New York to-
day to speed up negotiations there be-
tween operators and miners represen-
tatives which may bring an end to the
strike in the anthracite fields where
$4,000 men are idle. Union leaders
there doubted favorable action would
be taken oil the proposal. of certain in
dependent anthracite operators to
grant the miners nineteen wage de-
.mands if they return to work. The
miners scale committee announced
that negotiation of separate contracts
was against the international union
policy.
Union Miners Are All Out.
Union miners in the bituminous field
are out hundred per cent, leaders
say, but the support given them by
their non-union brethren is still vague.
Miners claim the strike is gaining
strength in the non-union districts.
Operators insist they are operating
normally.
Anthracite operators have promised
to correct their violations of the strike
order whereby mine. bosses replaced
union men in protection of the mines.
The government will take no action
until the public is menaced by coal
shortage, Attorney-G General Daugherty
said in announcing his determination
that "men have a right to quit work
and men have right to employ other
men" The strike has resulted in only
minor disorders.
Ohio Miners Reject Offer.
(By Associated Pre5s Leased Wire)
Toledo, O.--The Ohio Galleries COM
pany, largest individual coal operating
company in Ohio, will not be represent
ed in the proposed joint conference of
miners and operators in Washington
April 10th. Replying to the invitation
of Congressman Nolan, chairman of the
house committee on labor, George NJ
Jones, president of the Ohio Galleries,
said: mo doubt you are aware that
the operators and miners of the four
competitive states have met in joint
conference for some years to agree
upon a labor scale. Both the operators
and miners have been indicted and are
being prosecuted by the attorney gen
eral 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 conferen-
ces. In the meantime we are willing
and anxious to meet the United Mine
Workers of Ohio to negotiate a new
mining scale. Anything you can do to
bring such a conference about will be
appreciated"
Indiana Miners Opposed.
Terre .Haute, Ind. Indiana coal
operators today rejected the proposal
of Chairman Nolan Of the House La
Dor committee for joint wage con-
ference of operators and miners, un-
less the entire central competitive
field, comprising western Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois were
represented at the conference.