The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-08-08
Settlement.
in Miners
Strike Near
Operators From All Parts Of
Nation to Discuss Wage
Agreement at Cleve.
land Monday.
Lewis Approves Of Plans

Cleveland. Aug. 7.-(By A. P.)-
Settlement OF the nationwide soft
coal strike under definite plan ,ha.
may result in the making oi wage
agreements on substantially a ma
iional basis. will be presented to a
conference here Wednesday OF coal
operators. who are expected to come
from all parts OF III. country, with
oiiienls OF the union miners.
In the main, the plan provides for
resumption of coal production by
union miners under the wage scales
that existed when the strike began
April !, and for the appointment Of
an advisory commission of inquiry
within the coal industry, the person.
mel Of this commission to be ap-
proved by President Harding.
Outlook Hopeful
Existence OF the plan. which has
been approved by some operators
scattered over the country. became
known here when union officials and
operators. controlling about one
third of the output of the central
competitive field, met both separate
ly aud jointly with a view of taking
action toward breaking the coal
strike.
The joint conference adjourned
until Wednesday, by which time
it was announced officially that it
was expected that "other substantial
interests" would join in the meet
ing.
Lewis Approves Plan.
The plan, which was understood to
have the approval of John L. Lewis,
president of the miners. and Alfred
NJ. Ogle, president of the National
Coal association, may be presented
to Indiana and Ihinois operators
Tuesday. their meetings to be held
in Indianapolis and Chicago for the
purpose of deciding who will join the
conference here.
Confidence was expressed here by
operators and miners that the lndi-
ana and Illinois operators would
join the conference Wednesday, and
it was added that operators were ex-
pected from several districts outside
the central field, including West Vir-
ginia, Missouri, Iowa and Wyoming
ard some southwestern states.
When the first session of the joint
conference Of miners and operators
ended. a statement was issued by
Mr.. Lewis and Michael Gallagher,
president of the Pittsburgh Vein Op-
orators association of Ohio. as fol-
lows:
1T was agreed that the conference,
after being organized. should recess
to 3 p. m. Wednesday, August 9:
This action was taken in the belief
that other substantial interests would
announce their participation in the
conference by that time"
Expect Many Operators.
In issuing the statement, Mr..
Lewis and Mr.. Gallagher refused to
define whether the Substantial in
terests" were entirely within the CEN
trail field. Indications, however, were
that they expected majority of the
operators of the central field and also
those from several other states. Some
operators at the conference said prac-
tically all operators. excepting those
in western Pennsylvania and south
ern Ohio, would arrive here Wednes-
day. They also said some operators
would come from Pennsylvania and
southern Ohio.
Mr.. Lewis, who refused to affirm
or deny the plan for settlement to
be placed before the conference On
Wednesday declared that he was "oi
the opinion that this week will see
the end of the bituminous coal con-
troversy."
As soon as this is accomplished the
union officials are expected to ask
the anthracite operators to renew
negotiation on wage scale that were
broken off in June after continuing
several weeks.
Would Renew Wage Scale.
Under the plan Of settlement to be
submitted Wednesday the wages OF
the miners paid under the scale that
expired March 81, would be renewed
until March 81, 1924, and meanwhile
the advisory commission would de-
eide what recommendation as 10
wages would be made for the fu-
ture. =, -,
The commission also would be
authorized to investigate all ques-.
tions affecting the coal industry, and
though its powers WOULD be pure
" advisory, both operators and union
officials here regarded this as an
important factor in settling local
strikes. :,
The plan does not specify that any
agreement signed under it should .p-
DIV only to the central competitive
field, district comprising Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio and western Pennsyi-
vania. which has long been the bass
OF establishing wages IN the soft
coal industry. >,
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