New Britain herald., 1922-08-14
Lewis, Head of Union, Accepts Invitation To Conference Wednes-
 day, Expressing Con. 6dence of Settlement.
HARDING'S WARNING
 BRINGS ACTIVITIES

Philadelphia Aug. 14.-Samuel D. Warriner, president of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Co.,, and spokes- man for the anthracite coal operators, announced today that he had notified John l.. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers, that the mine owners were willing to resume operations in the hard coal fields at the old wage scale, pending the appointment of a commission to investigate the situa- tion.
 Conference Wednesday Mir Mariner said he had tele- graphed MT. Lewis last night suggest ing that a conference of anthracite 1 operators and representatives of the
 miners be held in this city Wednes- day.
 l. MT. Mariners aotieE followed, 2
 conference yesterday with L. S. Sena-
 tor Pepper Governor Sproul, W. J. | Richards. president of the Philadel- phia and Reading Coal and Iron Co.,, and William A. Glasgow. Jr,. counsel for the United Mine Workers.
 Harding Warning Heeded
 At this meeting it became known today Senator Pepper read a letter from President Harding in which tho president declared that further delay in the resumption of mining would mean danger nothing short of na- tion- wide disaster
 The president said that no time was to be lost in getting the men back in the mines and that if mining was re- sumed at once 'the future conse- quence of past delays must necessarily be serious. But if there is any fur ther delay we shall be in danger of nothing short of nationwide disas- ter"
 Presidents Suggestion
 President Harding suggested that the operators take the men back at the wage scale in effect on March 31, 1922, when the suspension began "un- til commission or other agency has had an opportunity to examine into the whole situation"
 Mir. Warriner, in his telegram to MT. Lewis, said the operators had been moved to extend the invitation for a conference not merely by our own desires but because the president of the United States has communi- ,ated an expression both of his wish that we should do so and of his hope hat you will accept"
 The telegram for Senator Pepper -ead.
 I a mtold that Mir Lewis has in- Heated willingness to confer at once with the anthracite operators in case they invite him to do SO I suggest you as the senator from the state most directly concerned that the op- erators will be acting in the public in- crest if they promptly send him cordial invitation to attend confer ance to be called by them at such ime and place as they may choose with view to the immediate resump- ion of production in the anthracite ields. I feel justified in making this suggestion because these operators nave manifested throughout spirit # cooperation with the administra- ion in seeking fair basis upon which 10 adjust the anthracite strike.
 Basis For Conference
 T understand that as q basis of conference NIT. Lewis stipulates for a eturn of the men at the old wage cale and the acceptance by the op- rators of the sc-called Shamokin Tn eytnding their invita- ion I hope the operators will indicate to take the men back at he old scale until a commission or ther agency has had an Opportunity 0 examine into the whole situation.
 No time is to be lost Even if pro- uction is resumed at once the future consequences of past delays must ece ssa rily be serious but if there Is ny further delay we shall be in dan- CT of nothing short of nationwide isaster." Mir. Warriner said he and his asso- iates were of an open mind" in re- ard to the appointment of 8 commis- ion or agency to investigate the st- alton in the hard coal fields. but that
 should be one that could definitely title and solve the difficulties.
 Lewis Wires Agreement. Cleveland, Aug. 14.-President John
 Lewis of the United Mine Work.
 (Continued on Eleventh Page).