Evening star., 1922-08-05
COAL STRIKE END
IS BELIEVED NEAR
Illinois WithhoIds Action
Pending Outcome of CIeve-
land Farley.
SEEK STATE AGREEMENT
Operators Offer Last Wages to Far
rington and Arbitration of
1923 Contract.
SEEK STATE AGREEMENT
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, August 5.--With possi-
bilities of peace in sight in the coal
strike, federal and state officials to-
day were Withholding action calcu-
lated to bring about speedy resump-
ton OF production. but continued prep
arations for such contingency should
the projected settlement plans fail.
The meeting Monday in Cleveland.
Ohio, of John L. Lewis, president of
the United Mine Workers. and other
union chiefs, with Representatives OF
coal operators in the central COM
petitive fields was looked upon as the
final independent peace effort Of the
warning factions. 1t was believed
generally here that should the Cleve-
land conference fail President Hard
ing would take some drastic action
toward ending the tie-up Of mines.
Illinois operators were awaiting de-
velopments in the meeting. believing
that acceptance ot the proposal made
by them last night would depend
largely upon the outcome of the par
ley. Illinois producers offered to pay
the old wage scale and make 1t effec-
tive until March 81, 1923, leaving the
whole matter of wages and working
conditions to a board of arbitration
made up of disinterested persons mu-
tually agreed on or appointed by
President Harding.
Shortage I'm South Dakota.
South Dakota was added to the list
Of states which face a serious fuel
shortage this winter. The state fuel
administrator said there was on hand
a supply about 10 per cent Of normal.
The Illinois operators refused to at
tend the meeting Of union officials and
operators called for Cleveland, but
submitted a proposition to Frank
harrington. president of the Illinois
miners union, which, If accepted,
would result in reopening of Illinois
mines.
"Acceding to and being governed
by the request Of the President Of the
United States" the proposal to Far
rington said, I'VE are prepared to at
once open our mines for work. pay
ing the wage scale in effect at the
expiration of the last contract And And
to avoid possible further disruption
Of coal production this fall and win
ter, when the coal supply will be
dangerously short even under the best
conditions, we will agree that the old
wage scale shall remain effective
until March 81. 1928"
Propose Arbitration.
The proposals, signed by the Illinois
Coal Operators Association, the
Central Illinois Coal Operators Asso-
citation and the Coal Operators Asso-
citation of the fifth and ninth districts,
suggested that Immediately upon re-
sumption of operations the whole
matter Of Illinois wages and working
conditions be submitted to board OF
arbitration composed of persons
mutually agreed to or appointed by
President Harding, no member Of the
board to be an operator or q miner
The findings of the board, accord
ing to the terms Of the proposal, would
be binding and would constitute the
wage basis for a period of two years
from April l, 1923.
Operators attending the meeting
said that Illinois mines can produce
80. 100000 tons Of coal year, and that
settlement on the basis agreed
upon would practically assure nc
shortage of fuel in the middle
western states.