The Washington herald., 1922-07-17
OPERATORS MEET
Can't Accept Presidents
Plan Internationally,
They Indicate.
EXECUTIVE STILL
HOPES FOR PEACE
Does Not Think Miners
Rejection Final-Union
Conference Today.

President Harding will make q
final effort today TO settle the
coal mine strike before resortins
to the power OF the government to
force resumption OF full coal pro-
duction.
When he receives the reply Of
the operators 10 his arbitration
proposal the President will en-
deavor TO shape a compromise be-
tween the positions OF the miners
and the operators which he will
ask both sides TO accept
That the President believes there
is still room for a pacific settle
ment OF the dispute became known
last night while the operators were
in session discussing the reply they
plan to make to Mr.. Harding tc-
day.
The operators adjourned without
action to meet at IL a m. today,
for final decision on their reply to
the President. In The mestime the
operators will caucus by districts.
IL was learned that the Presi-
dent does not regard the miners
rejection Saturday OF his srbitra-
tion plan as final and that he has
been given ample reason for this
conviction by Secretary OF Labor
Davis who is in close touch with
John l. Lewis. president Of the
United Mine Workers.
Miners VIII Meet Today.
Lending color TO this interpreta-
ton of the attitude Of the miners
Is the fact that the policy COM
jmittee OF the union has remained in
Washington and is to meet again
this morning. II is reported that
Lewis has held the committee here
at the instance OF adminIstratton
officials who believe that the repIy
OF the operators will leave room
for further negotiation for a issis
OF settlement
The understanding is that if the
President is able to work out a
fair compromise he will put IL up
to the miners and operators TO ac-
cept without further question. in
default OF which compliance he
Will proceed TO exert the authority
Of the government TO reopen the
closed mines.
With A. NJ. Ogle. president Of the
National Coal Association presiding.
more than fifty operators were in
session to a late hour last night de-
batting the attitude they are 10
adopt toward the President's set
tlemept proposal. Opinion was
greatly divided.
Operators Fear BANKRUPTCY.
The operators were unanimous.
however, in asserting that they
could not accept the Presidents plau
Internationally without courtinc
bankruptcy. 1t was contended that
under the Presidents arbitration
plan it would be possible for the
miners to force the indefinite con-
tinuation Of the old high-wags
scale. which would mean no reduc-
tion in the cost OF coal mined in
the union mines and the inability
OF the union mines to compete with
the nonunion mines.
The operators also voiced ohjec-
tons generally to the establishment
OF a national wage scale. They
continue TO stand out for collective
bargaining by districts or limited
to the central competitive field and
are adverse to acceptance OF an
arbitration plan admitting the pos
sibility Of a national contract being
forced upon them.
Mr. Hoover Visits Operators.
The leaders among the operators
advocated making a reply to the
President setting forth In detail
what portions of his plan they can
accept and what portions they feel
compelled to reject.
II was evident, however. that the
reply is being prepared with the
contingency OF further negotiations
with miners in mind. It. therefore.
presumably will not represent final
concessions on the part of the o.
orators any more than the policy
committees reply to the President
Saturday is believed to fall short OF
hnal- concessions on the part OF
the miners.
At o'clock Secretary OF Com
merce Hoover. who is taking a
prominent part in the negotiations.
arrived at the Washington Hotel
and asked for Mr.. Ogle, who had
just left the hotel to attend a dis
trict caucus OF operators Mr..
Hoover talked Informally with some
Of the operators and departed. say
ing that the administration is
marking time pending receipt Of the
operators answer. Shortly there
after Mr. ogle drove 10 Mr.. Hoover's
residence. where a protracted con-
ference was held
Operators Welcome Seizure.
The President is so hopeful OF
bringing about a settlement that
he postponed for the time being any
action IN the direction OF invoking
the power OF the government to re-
open the closed mines. Secretary
OF Commerce Hoover and Attorney
General Daugherty saw him during
the day. but II was stated that
measures OF last resort to avert a
fuel famine had been only casually
discussed
Numerous operators were out
spoken in welcoming action by the
government TO force resumption OF
full coal production. They said
they would be glad to have the gov
ernment take over their mines and
operate them. having failed for
some time TO operate them at a
profit and realizing that they would
operate them at a loss. ~ at all. IN