The New York herald., 1922-06-27
LEWIS BALKS EFFORT
OF ADMINISTRATION
TO END COAL STRIKE
Mine Workers. Leader Re-
fuses Bid for District
Conferences.
LUNCH WITH HARDING
Declares Union Will Settle
Only on Basis of National
Agreement.
NEW FARLEY PROBABLE
President Expected to Sum-
mon Operators to Meet La
Dor Representatives.
NEW FARLEY PROBABLE

Special Dispatch to THE New YoRx HKRALp.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. June 20.
Administration efforts to-day to end
the bituminous coal strike. through
conferences with John L. Lewis, presi-
dent Of the United Mine Workers
Union. brought no tangible results.
Mr.. Lewis, with the Secretary Of
Labor, was luncheon guest at the
White House and went thoroughly
over the strike situation with Presi
dent Harding. He insistently declined
to entertain for the mine workers any
suggestion of the district conferences
sought by the mine operators.
After his luncheon and many hours
Of conference with Secretary Davis
Mr.. Lewis made it plain that his posi-
ton and that of the union miners was
unchanged. He insisted they would
confer and negotiate only on the basis
of national agreement. or the old
central competitive field basis.
No Official Statement.
No official statement regarding the
conferences was made at the White
House or at the Labor Department. Mr.
Lewis talked to reporters In the pres
ence Of Secretary Davis and the Secre-
tary said there was nothing to add to
what Mr.. Lewis had said.
The fact that little progress was made
with Mr.. Lewis to-day, however, Will
not bring an end to Administration ef-
forts to find some solution of the present
difficulty. 1t is likely that coal oper-
ators of the union fields will be asked
to meet President Harding In an In
formal discussion Of their problems.
This conference may lead to the bring
ing together Of representatives OF both
factions though this does not appear
likely now because of the obdurate stand
taken by Mr.. Lewis. SO far as could be
officially learned. President Harding and
Secretary Davis offered no definite pro-
posal for settlement 1t Is understood
that they discussed the problem and the
issues involved from the standpoint Of
the union miners and urged some middle
ground upon which the operators and
the miners might be brought together.
Mr.. Lewis stated that no truce had
been proposed in the coal fields, and
added that none would be considered.
A truce, he said, would amount to a
temporary settlement. and he indicated
plainly that the miners were In a finish
fight. He scorned the district confer
ences suggested as impracticable. Such
conferences. he said, would come to
nothing because operators on the one
hand and miners on the other would
agree to nothing without knowing what
their fellows were doing.
Mr.. Lewis came to Washington las;
night. He spent several hours In con.
ference with Secretary Davis at tho
lattsr's home. The conference was re-
sumed at the Labor Department Just
before noon and at o'clock.
Statement by Lewis.
"The Secretary of Labor and had
luncheon with the President, following
which was a discussion of an hour and
a half on the general problems of the
bituminous coal industry and the strike
situation" said Mr.. Lewis.
1--WE discussed problems Of overdevel-
opment, with its excess operations ana
excess employees. the intermittency
and inadequacy of employment and
various questions affecting possible
stabilization of the industry.
with relation to the strike we con
sidered the matter of a possible Joint
conference of operators and miners and
the merits of district joint conferences
as related to the usual method OF con-
ference in the central competitive fields
and representative national confer
ence No definite plan was decided
upon.
"As far as the United Mine Workers
are concerned the strike situation has
not changed.
II explained to the President the