, 1922-08-17
BY EDWARD w. IckARp

T Unless the coal operators, the Off
~ Gals of the miners union and the
authorities in Washington are badly Off
in their guessing, the coal strike is al
most over The four-state conference
called by President Lewis in Cleve-
land was considering favorably this
agreement:
l. A -four state basic contract,
perhaps expanded to include north
ern West Virginia, under which the
old wages and working conditions in
the contract which expired last March
81 will be continued until next April /.
2. A fac finding body to be set up
under approval or by appointment of
President Harding to find out what is
the matter with the coal industry and
what can be done to s~traighten it out.
Definite action is being delayed in
hope that the Illinois and Indi-
ana operators Will change their minds
and participate. Hitherto the oper-
ators have sought to break AWAY from
the idea Of a central competitive dis
trict on which the miners insist. By
getting some producers from each Of
NV iOhA oluAto itilO nv iit
irrespective of how small a minority
of production they may represent, the
United Mine Workers argue they car
ry their contention by getting a set
Element on n four state basis. But the
contract will be binding only upon
those who sign up. and Illinois, which
produces about twice as much as any
other state in the central field, will
have only "A few Individual signers. the
big associations standing pat on their
own proposals. However, the theory
most generally expressed at the con-
ference was that once mines in the
East begin to open up. there will be
n rush on the part of Illinois and In
diana producers to sign up.
In Washington the government Off
Gals were predicting the early settle
ment of the bituminous strike through
the adoption of n compromise agree-
ment embracing these features:
Restoration OF last years wage
scale until next March. with continue
tion of the check-of system.
Creation of n coal commission to In
vestigate the situation and to recon-
mend n new agreement.
Postponement of further controversy
until next spring, by which time the
proposed investigation will be com
pleted.
1t was reported that President A.
NJ. Ogle OF the National Coal associa-
ton wns favorable TO this plan and
that Senator Mckinley had advices
that the Illinois operators were In
clIned to enter such an agreement.
Governor McCray's effort to reopen
Indiana mines under military guard
proved more Of n gesture than nm nc
compllshment. Very little coal was
produced during the week and most
nf the men employed deserted. fearing
for their lives. The governor intlmnt-
ed That II all other plans for nvertlng
n fuel famine in the state failed. con
Wet labor would be employed to get
out coal under martial law. On the
other hand, the Impeachment Of Me
Gray for sending troops into he coal
field was demanded by a mass meet
inc of strikers and union labor men
Mt Terre Haute.
It was the general belief that II
present negotiations fail 10 end the
strike, President Harding Will seize
the mines and operate them under
guard OF federal troops. Tint he
might await the sanction of congress
for such a course was indicated by
the fact that he suggested to the Re-
publican leaders Of the house the de-
STABILITY Of maintaining full member