New-York tribune., 1922-08-22
Cancellation Proposal of
Anthracite Operators
Rejected i'm Ultinatum
Served by John Lewis
Mediation Means
Pay Cuts, He Says
Union Asks 2-Year Con-
tract at Old Wage, and
ThenDirect Negotiations
spec.al p.spatoh 20 yhe Trfnnna

Special Dispatch to Tho Tribune
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 21.--Peace in
the anthracite coal fields hangs in the
balance. So delicate is the situation
at the conference Of operators and
miners that has been in session the
last few days in the Offices Of the Le-
high Coal and Navigation Company in
this city that 1t would take little to
upset the proceedings and cause de-
parture of the conferees.
The cause is the ultimatum of John
L. Lewis, president of the United Mine
Workers Of America, delivered to-day
at a stormy session when Chris Col
den, president Of the miners in the
Shamokin region, threatened to bolt
the conference.
The meeting scheduled for o'clock
was held UP an hour by the failure of
Mr.. Golden to arrive. This is not the
first time he has had tendency to
ignore the proceedings, and the Ten
dency has been growing of late, caus-
ing much concern.
No Arbitration, Says Lewis
In unmistakable terms Mr.. Lewis In
formed the operators that the mine
workers would stand for no proposal
that smackcd of arbitration, no matter
in what guise.
The operators on Friday laid before
the miners representatives a proposal
that the present wage controversy be
referred to the anthracite Cancellation
commission, the decision of that body,
with certain provisions, to be made
binding. 1t was against that proposal
that Mr.. Lewis launched his declara-
tion.
Pointing to the fact that the same
stand was taken succe ssfully by the
miners at the Cleveland conference
with operators Of the central competi-
tive (bituminous) field, Mr.. Lewis as
serted that it would be mistake il
the mine workers representatives
deviated from that policy. Arbitra-
tion, no matter with what sort OF sugar
coating, in the opinion of the men he
represents, IS synonymous with re-
duction in wages; if not now, at least
of potential happenings, he said.
1t had been thought that the proposal
involving the use Of the conciliation
commission as a wage-settling body
would prove attractive to the miners,
in view of the commissions record Of
nearly twenty years of satisfactory
functioning.
Ray of. Hope Remains
AS the meeting adjourned ray Of
hope was offered by one of the leaders
of the mine workers, who said: cal
though we are unalterably opposed to
arbitration in any form, we are certain
we can find some way out Of the pres
ent difficulty"
1t Is understood that the counter
proposal that the miners will present
to the operators is for two-year con-
tract at the old wage scale to date
from April ! last, at the end of which
time new wage scale will be formu-
lated by direct negotiation.
One of the representatives Of the
mine workers, questioned as to wheth-
er the prospective wage scale of 1924,
as embodied in the proposal, would be
lower than the old one, fefused to COM
ment. Questioned further, he said that
at that time 1t was probable the miners
would permit the operators to ask
whether reduction could be made.
The following formal statement was
made public after the session:
The anthracite committee will meet
tomorrow afternoon at o'clock. The
time of the committee was occupied in
an effort to reconcile the views Of the
operators and miners on terms Of q
possible agreement to cover wages and
working conditions in the anthracite
coal fields. The conference will re-
sumo it's sessions August %, at 3 p. M.
Mr.. Lewis's reply to the operators at
the meeting came as the result OF q
morning conference with his district
presidents, all Of whom returned to
their respective regions over the week
end to determine the sentiment toward
the operators proposal to use the con-
ciliation commission.
Scoff at Bituminous Aid
Al rumor that the operators proposed
to import miners from the bituminous
mines which are signatories to the
agreement reached at Cleveland caused
amusement on both sides to-day. 1t was
enphatical1y denied.
An. idea of what the hoped-for agree.
ment between the contending factions
will embody is given by this statement
from an authoritative source that the
miners will insist on the elimination
of sub-contracts. These have been con
sistently opposed by the miners foi
years on the claim that the snb-con-
tractor rarely provides adequate safety
precautions for his men,
5 There is also hint that the check.
OFF will be written into the possible
new contract.
As result Of to-day's conference
between the anthracite miners and
operators, the prospect of peace in the
hard coal regions is at critical stage
The miners are unalterably opposed
to arbitration in any form and say the
operators proposal to use the anthra.
cite conciliation commission as a court
to decide the wage dispute is merely
another disguise for what they
object to.
What they want is a two-year CON.
tract at the old wage scale and direct
negotiation for new scale when that
expires, Tomorrow the operators will
have to decide what their aaswer K
this demand VT ba