The Topeka state journal., 1922-08-09
Preparations for End of Fuel
Tieup in Illinois Made.
Fires Started in All Mines and
Mules Lowered Into Shafts.
THIS AFTERNOON TO DECIDE
Indiana and West Pa. Steadfast
Not to Enter Farley.
New Scale VIII Be Negotiated
in Few Days, However, Plan.

Kansas City, Mo, Aug. 9.-"John l..
Lewis is talking for effect-he Is en-
tirely too optimistic about ending the
coal strike" w. L. A. johnson, gem
eraI commissioner OF the Southwest
ern Coal Operators association. de-
cIared today, in commenting upon the
prediction of President Lewis of the
United Mine Workers of America, that
the end of the coal strike is in sight.
Lewis has on;y a 'rump' conven-
ton and a handful of operators"
johnson added.
(By The Associated Press.)
Cleveland, Aug. 9.-Virtual decision
was reached today by union leaders
to conclude a settlement of the soft
coal strike with the operators who
have gathered here for the joint peace
conference. The operators also were
expectant OF an agreement affecting
practically all mines in Ohio and scat
tered others in Illinois. Indiana and
Pennsylvania.
Harrisburg ILL.,. Aug 9.-Fires have
been started in every coal mine in this
section and mules are being lowered
into shafts today. Preparations are
being made by practically all opera
tors in Williamson county to resume
mining and it is the belief of both
3
that the coal strike will be called off
within forty-eight hours.
Pottsville. Pa, Aug. s.-The last re-
serves of anthra cite coal are being
moved from this section to New York
and other points. These reserves were
held by the Philadelphia & Reading
Coal d Iron company. This informa-
! ton was telegraphed to Washington
| today by Mayor J. C. Berstler in re-
sponse to government inquiries as to
the available supply.
Parley Is Begun.
Cleveland, o., Aug. s.-while Indi-
ana and western Pennsylvania op-
| orators apparently remained stead
| fast in their determination not to en-
| ter the joint conference which reas-
sembles here this afternoon upon the
call of President John L. Lewis, to me-
! gotiate a wage scale which will end
the nineteen-week tieup In the union
| coal fields of the United States, both
! operators and miners were confident
| today that new wage scale would be
{ negotiated and signed within a few
! days and that coal would be running
| over the tipples in union mines early
next week.
Lewis Is Disappointed.
The declination of the Indiana op-
! orators to go in the wage negotiations
| after it had been thought that their
| attendance had been assured by Secreg
] negotiations looking to the establish
| ment OF a permanent wage tribunal
| came as a disappointment to both
| sides, but President Lewis, of the
| United Mine Workers, and spokesmen
| for the operators, who represent ap-
| proximately 35 per cent of the tom
| mage in the central competitive field,
| said that their action would not pre-
vent the negotiations and signing of a
| new wage scale.
Appointment of a joint scale conn
| mittee of about twenty members is ex-
pected to be the first action taken
| when the conference reassembles al
I o'clock
| Little difficulty is expected in
| agreeing upon the terms, which will
| include the concession of the 1920
wage scale on the part OF the op-
orators, including the check Off sys-
tenn of collecting union dues and the
| waving by the miners of demaf fide for
| fiveday week and six-hour day.
/