Evening star., 1922-07-03
DEADLOCKED, COAL
PAR[EY ADJOURNS
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
Will Allow Miners and 0per-
ators to Talk Over
Differences. ~
SECRETARY DAVIS STILL
HOPEFUL OVER OUTCOME
No Definite Plans for the Future.
Many Different Proposals
Submitted. -

By the Associated Press.
Deadlocked over basis Of negotiat-
ing a settlement of the bituminous
coal strike. the conference of oper-
ators and United Mine Workers Off
cials accepted the suggestion Of gov
ernment representatives today and
adjourned until next Monday.
When the adjournment was taken
at 1:l0 o'clock this afternoon after
two joint session. and an interme-
and miners. Secretary Of Labor Davis.
one Of the government representa-
tives, said that no agreement had
been reached, no committee to con-
tinue the discussions in the mean
time appointed. and no specific pro-
gram for the future discussed. al
though many different plans had been
proposed. -
Asked as to the Indications for a
successful ultimate outcome of the
conference. which assembled Satur-
day at the behest of President Hard
ing, Mr.. Davis said with the agree
ment of Secretary Hoover. the other
government representative, that "as
long as we hold them together there
is hope"
Prior to the meeting It was evident
that the operators intended to force
out yielding in their refusal to meet
the union for the purpose Of making
mp national or semi-natfonal wage
scale. From the views OF John L.
Lewis. president of the United Mine
Workers. it was evident that the
miners consider it necessary to pro-
long the strike rather than agree
to negotiate for district wage scales
" ith the operators. -
At lengthy meeting by themselves
I< h
tfves prepared a resolution incorpor-
ating their view, and though its de-
tail was held confidential 1t was un-
derstood that II the joint conference
broke UP today. the operators had
been determined to open a large num-
territory on q non-union basis on
Wednesday. The principal property
so understood to be ready for open
ing was a 5.0e0-ton daily capacity
| mine of the Pittsburgh Coal Com
pany in PENNSYLVANIA Various other
the central coal heid were also UNDER
| stood to be- selected for immediate
operation. The old wage scale calls
for q base wage of $3.50 per day
underground. while the mines that
will open are expected to offer to
miners the 1917 scale. which has .
base OF about IS per day UNDER
ground. Both the union officials and
operators appear to be fully inform,
ed of each others determination ana
the only doubt remaining concerned
the governments proposal.
Secretary of Labor Davis appeared
still hopeful before the meeting. ana
was again the chief source OF the
impression that the administration
would intervene further before letting
the gathering fail of accomplishing .
strike settlement
Following the formal votes at their
second meeting yesterday by which
each side rejected the proposal of the
other as to the basis for negotiation
of new wage scales and later sepa-
rate meetings of the two groups at
which each was said to have held
firm to the position taken. there had
been no indication today OF what sug-
Eestions the government might have
to offer as a means of progress in the
negotiations. After the formal cast
ing Of ballots the joint meeting ad-
journed until 10 o'clock today.
Secretaries Hoover and Davis. who
attended yesterdays session. an
nounced in a joint statement that
the operators first voted down tie
miners proposal for central corn
petitive field wage conference and the
latter Immediately after recorded
posal for independent wage CONFER
enoes in each district.
In arguments against the central
competitive field wage negotiations
the operators were said to have main
tanned that they resulted practically
in the fixing of national wage scales
by Illinois, Ohio. Indiana and western
Pennsylvania. without regard to dh-
ferences of living costs, mining con-
ditions and transportation facilities
in outlying competing districts. The
miners, through John 1. Lewis. presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers,
were said to have countered with the
assertion that operators in outiyin g
districts could not and would not
settle until they knew what wage
conditions their competitors might