New-York tribune., 1922-03-10
Operators in West Penn
sy'vania Refuse 10 Join
General ParIcy With
Miners on New Conirac,
Harding Backed
Move Cor Peace
Next Federal Action Nav
he Drastic; Several Sec.
lions Plan Settlement

WASHINGTON. March 9.-Acting with
thc wholc-hcartcd sanction and ap-
prevail of President Harding and tho
othcr members Of the Cabinet. Sccrc-
tary Of Labor Davis to dav urged in
earnest terms chat the coal operators
of thc central competitive fold abide
IT, the terms Ct their present contract
with the miners and meet the latter
IN an effort to effect new agreement.
His counsel was that the operators
and mine workers get together in
the interest Of common sense and save
the country from tn costly results
Of q strikc'
In the face of this appcal-constitut-
ing the strongest governmental action
yet taken in the situation and in effect
presenting a message of the President
himsclf-thc operators OF Western
Pennsylvania. on whose decisions the
entire central field situation has rested
thus far, several hours later again an
nounccd refusal to deal with any but
the miners of their state. "Our de-
custom, tho announcement declared, "is
lrrcNOcablc.'
Strike Feared April
Thus it appeared tonight that tho
only possibility by which a coal strike
can be averted April |, at least in many
OF the mining fields, would be direct in
tervention of the government acting
with threats of drastic action. Whether
the President is contemplating such a
step is matter Of conjecture.
According to reports sentiment here is
strongly with the President and Secre-
tary Davis in the action they have taken
thus far and it holds the newest refusal
of the operators to meet the miners to
be most unwise. Contrasting the atti-
tude Of the operators. the following
statement was received here tonight
from John l.. Lewis, president Of tho
United Mine Workers, III commenting
in indianapolis on the Davis appeal:
"The statement issued by Secretary
OF fabor Davia~ss- day rully s'...tains
the position of the United Mine Work
ers that the coal operators Of the
central competitive field are morally
bound to meet with the miners in a
Joint conference for the purpose of
negotiating a new wage agreement.
Miners Cite Agreement
"Thc operators agreed in writing, in
New York on March 81. 1920 that they
would meet with the miners prior to
April ], 1922, for this purpose. We
have all along contcnded that they
were bound by this agreement, and
that their refusal to enter into such
negotiations was direct violation of
their contract.
-;ch 70
that the United Mine Workers have
been ready and now are ready to meet
with the operators at any time and
place to negotiate new agreement
that will avert a suspension of opera
tlons in the coal industry, stabilize the
coal business and avoid any inconven-
fence to the public.
Up to this time we have failed to
bring the operators into conference
and the only thing we can hope for now
is that the government may succeed in
bringing sufficient pressure to bear on
these operators to compel them to meet
US as they agreed they would do"
OF the other operators of the central
competitive field, those of northern
Ohio followed their DSevous course in
the controversy of issuing "left-handed
acceptances," their spokesmen saying
they would meet the miners in CON
ference, as outlined by Secretary Davis,
"provided the other operators in the
central competitive field are also rep
resented" Like action was expected
from the Indiana operators. The same
attitude as that taken by the western
PENNSYLVANIA mine owners was expect
ed as the answer from the southern
Ohio operators.
Illinois Owners to Parley
The Illinois operators, however,
adopted the stand that they are willing
to enter such conference at any time
or place, with or without the other
operators of the central competitive
field This was regarded az diplo-
matte move on behalf of the separate
state agreement, which each of the
other groups wants and which the
union views as a blow at its very ex-
istence.
Generally, the Illinois situation now
looms as of nearly as vital Importance as
the main issues, owing to the factional
fight within the union being Led by
Frank harrington, head of the Illinois
miners. against the leadership of Lewis.
According to St. Louis dispatches
Harrington to-day left no doubt that
ne intends to attempt to obtain a sep
arate state agreement for the ililnols
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