The New York herald., 1922-08-23
Statement BY Lewis.

PHILApELpHIA, Aug. ~ (Associated
Press) THE position of the United
Mine Workers on the question of arbi-
tration Is we'll known and generally
recognized" said the statement by John
l.. Lewis, president OF the United Mine
Workers and head of the miners dele
cation. I'VE do not believe the prin-
ciple Of collective bargaining should be
set aside or substituted by any theory
CT arbitration. Our position on this
question has been repeatedly made clear
and there is no intent on the part Of
the United Mine Workers to compromise
this principle"
Mr.. Warriner also issued formal
statement, declaring that the operators
in their proposal to the miners repre-
sentntives had in mind not merely the
bringing about OF a resumption OF pro-
duc.ion but also the establishment Of a
basis looking toward permanent peace
and continuous operation in the future.
1t wss the operators belief, he said,
that this could best be obtained by &
long term contract with provision for a
periodical revision OF wages by arbitra-
ton. which should be binding upon both
parties.
Mr.. Warmer said that despite the re-
lection Of the operators proposals. 1--WE
are hopeful that wiser second thought
will bring about its acceptance"
lie added that the objections of the
operators toward a long term contract
was the present business uncertainty. !"
and that 1t would be ''unethicap' and
an "affront" TO anthracite consumers il
they should be compelled after 1929 to
pay a price not commensurate with the
price of living conditions after that date.
bad Faith Charged.
In presenting the case Of the coal dig
gers Mr.. Lewis declared that the per
sistent actions or the representative
OF the anthracite operators in declin-
ing to discuss any other question than
arbitration seemingly indicates a lack
OF desire upon their part for settle
ment In this respect there is a marked
dif1erence In the position occupied by
the anthracite operators and In the
position occupied by the operators who
have now largely accepted the provisions
OF the agreement made in tho Cleve-
land Interstate conference, wherh the
question of arbitration was totally elimf-
mated. Continuing. the statement OF
the miners chief said:
When the representatives OF the
United Mine Workers accepted the invi-
participate in the joint conference we
believed that 1t was their purpose to
enectuate settlement OF the anthracite
strike. We were, therefore, after enter
Ing the conference. astonishd TO find that
they had resurrected the theory Of arbi-
tration and again offered IL as con-
dition OF settlement. Tho entire week
OF conference has been taken up by dis
cussion OF this matter.
The most recent offer Of the anthra-
cite operators made to the conference
several days ago provides for so-called
voluntary plan of arbitration similar to
the plan under which the railway labor
board operates and Identical with the
principle set forth in the Canadian In
dustrial Disputes act. The public Is en-
tirely familiar with the iamentable fail
ure of arbitration as exemplned by the
United States railway labor board and
Is to-day suffering keen distress because
OF the blundering failure OF this agency
to function with proper regard for the
workers rights The public IL also
aware OF the breakdown in the Canadian
Industrial Disputes act az concerns the
basic and essential industries of Canada.
Calls Arbitration Disastrous.
"The present turmoil existing in the
mining industry i'm both tho Northwest
and maritime provinces OF Canada Ia
directly traccable TO the failure OF this
kind OF legislation. Tho $4,000 mine
workers employed in the anthracite coal
fields who have been engaged in a
bitter struggle for nearly five months
have no time or inclination to indulge
In further experiments of shis kind
when their powers of observation re-
veal to them the disastrous workings OF
arbitration elsewhere.
The mine workers representatives
proposed the making OF contract until
March 81, 1924, and would have given
serious consideration to the making OF
longer term contract thus guarantee
ing the stability OF the industry frc,
from interruption OF production and
carrying insurance 20 the public that iti
supply of anthracite fuel would he ade.
quate.
"Our offer In this respect was mel
with the brutally frank statement OF th'
anthracite operators that the price q
such an agreement must be arbitration
of the wage scale at stated periods
The mine worxers have declined to pur
chase peace at such a cost. We have
every honorable desire to negotiate AZ
! agreement for the anthracite industr,
and in consideration OF that purpos'