South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-07
MINERS HEADS
And OPERATORS
TO MEET TODAY
Only Central Field Employers
Have Been Invited Others
May BE Later.
LEWIS EXPRESSES HOPE
Mine Workers Head Says
Agreement May be Reach
ed Within Few DAYS.

CLEVELAND. o. Aug. 6.-(By a
P.)-Hope for an early settlement
OF the nationwide soft coal strike
was held out tonight by Pres't John
L. Lewis OF the United Mine Work
ers OF America. who declared he was
optimistic as 10 the possible results
Of conferences between union lead
ers and operators which begin here
tomorrow.
only operators OF the central COM
petitive field. comprising Illinois. In
diana, Ohio and western Pennsyi-
vania. have been invited 20 the con
ference with the union leaders to-
morrow. but indications tonight "a
vored the latter invitations 70 opera
tors OF other coal fields, possibly re-
sUlting IN enlargement Of the central
field as a basis for wage negotia-
lions IN the soft coal industry
May Submit Plan.
Mr. Lewis on his arrival here to-
night from Pittsburg. where he spent
the day declined 20 discuss the pos
sible enlargement OF a settlement,
saying Developments OF the confer
ence would disclose whether opera
tors in the outlying districts would
be invited into conference He IN
dicated, however that he might sub
NIT a plan 70 the unions policy
committee OF 12S members for
settlement affecting more states than
those OF the central competitive
field
Aside from the possibility OF ex-
tending settlement beyond the
central field, members OF the policy
committee indicated they favored
making wage agreement with a
minority within the central field. APP
parently regarding such move ne
one that would force other operators
TO make a settlement. Al the same
time, they said. agreements could be
made with operators IN the outlying
districts
Hopes For Results.
The prospects for break in the
strike developing from the opening
conference tomorrow hinged appar-
emily on the size OF the attendance
OF the operators from scattered dis
tricts within the central field. and
whether they were willing 90 meet
the unions wage demands Too
few had reached here tonight lo
forecast the outcome. but their num-
Der was expected 10 be increased
by tomorrow and union officials
plainly indicated their expectation
Of fruitful results
II am optimistic az 20 the pos
sible results of the meetings with
the coal operators scheduled fo~
Cleveland this week" declared
Priest Lewis 81 am hopeful that
within a few days 81 win be possible
10 work an agreement satisfactory
10 the public. the miners and or
orators. which will permit the early
resumption ~ bitumiuous mining"
Anthracite Not Included.
No statement on settlement IN
the anthracite regions OF Pennsyl-
vania was made by Mr. Lewis. but
IL was understood that II an sgrec-
ment were reached regarding the
soft coal fields that the union would
ask the anthracite operators 20 re-
sumo wage negotiations that were
broken off in June after continuing
fruitlessiy for several weeks
In union circles. lt was said that
the Southwestern Interstate Goa,
Operators association the ONaho-
ma Coal Operators association and
the Iowa Coal operators assOcia-
ton were willing 10 niece the union
demands for a reesta blishment o.
the wage rates that were ln effec-
when the strike began April T. So