The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-04-03

Resolved that an interstate joint
conference be held prior to April l,
1922, the time and place of holding
such meetings is referred to commit
tee of two operators and two miners
from each state herein represented,
together with the international Off
GERS of the nited Mine Workers
organization.
This arrangement was part OF
the agreement, equally as binding as
any other provision and was duly eX-
ecuted in writing through the attach
ment of the signatures of the opera
tors and mine workers representa-
ltives. II was a pledge morally as
binding as any bond or promissory
note ever executed in a business
transaction. The mine workers of
the country believed that the soft
coal operators signed the agreement
in good faith, but we now find that
they contumaciously refuse to live up
to their agreements. The have re-
fused point blank to do as they had
agreed they would do. If they were
to refuse to liquidate their financial
obligations it would be no more dis
honorable than their refusal to keep
their solemn agreement with the
mine workers. On two occasions
since the month of December, 1921,
the operators have been formally in
vited by the mine workers repre-
sentatives to meet in joint confer
ence at a designated time and place
for the purpose indicated in the
agreement. On each occasion our
invitation has been refused and our
efforts have been in vain. In as
suming this attitude the operators
do. not deny that they are contract
breakers. Mr. P. H. Penn, of India
ma, who for nearly two decades has
been the chief spokesman for the
coal operators of the central compe
titive field in a recent public inter-
view, said:
! Il cannot deny that our refusal
to meet is a violation of our agree
ment.'.'
in the face of such brazen and
uncompromising attitude on the part
of the coal operators the mine work
ers had no alternative but to quit
their work when the agreement eX-
pired and await the making of an
othe{ agreement fixing their sche-
dulles of wages and governing their
conditions of employment. 1t is re-
cognized by all thoughtful men that
in the end an agreement must be eff
fected through the accredited repre-
lsentatives of the organized mine
workers of the country and it is par
ticularly unfortunate that the hun
dreds of thousands of men must be
withdrawn from industry to the de-
triment of the social and economic
Well being of the country before a
joint conference can be held and an
agreement negotiated.
The responsibility for this condi-
tion must clearly rest upon the shoul
ders of the coal operators, who have
flagrantly and arrogantly refused to
carry out their obligations and meet
the mine workers in a joint confer
ence. Their attitude should right
fully bring down upon them the mo-
raj castigations of an outraged citi-
zenship. The public can follow its
own reasoning in defining the motive
of the operators. Whether it be
their mere sordid desire to further
enrich their own teeming Golfers or
whether it be their futile hope to
destroy the u. M. w. of America
and beat the miners backwards it is
Iequally rehensible.
Despite the failure of our previ-
GUS attempts to secure meeting
with the coal operators for the pur-
pose of negotiating an agreement,
the mine workers are still ready to
meet at any time if such a meeting
is possible
|, Wilkesbarre, Pa, April 3.-Produc-
tion is at standstill in the three An
thracite coal districts of Pennsylvania
and $4,000 idle miners have settled
down to await the outcome of the
: New York conferences. Some of the
: foreign born workers have taken ad-
. vantage of the suspension to visit
. their old homes in Europe while 9TH
ers are seeking temporary positions
elsewhere.
I The thousands of railroad employees,
members of coal crews, found them
selves out of employment today as a
. result of the suspension. In the
| Wilkesbarre district alone two thou
, sand railroaders were idle. Long
: trains of loaded cars have been NOV
| ing out of the classification yards in
J the several shipping centers ever
since the tie up and 1t is expected the
~OoAO@ "hA NC NiCdhCQ up ny tOHlSHL.
The coal is being stored on sidings
: nearer the larger cities where orders
J can be more readily filed.
} Officials of some of the local unions
j today were investigating the source
, OF circulars which have made their
) appearance among. the miners, criti
} cising their leaders and advocating
} "one big union" The men were urged
) to disregard the circulars and to re-
. swear allegiance to the leadership of
the United Mine Workers of America
. |. Radicals, 1t was stated, were taking
= advantage of the suspension to spread
! their propaganda in the Anthracite
q fields.
Breckley, w. Va. April 8. - virtu,
r ally complete tie up of the new Riv-
I er coal fields and partial closing in
the Winding Gulf field were claimed
by, John Sprouse, president of the
8 district 20 United Mine Workers Of
' America today