New-York tribune., 1922-03-23
Coal Con,ferees
Here Pave w Way
For New Scale
Sub-Commiitcc D;sposcs Of
shc iesser issues and
Delegates Begin Discus
-iom OF Wage Agreement
Lewis Denies Progress
Miners PLAN 10 Depart To-
morrow for Cleveland
10 Make pIas.s for Strike

Elimination OF the lesser points at
issue between the anthracite coal min
ers' representatives. and the operators
III the hard coal field enabled the CON
ference og the sub-scals committee, III
progress at the Union League Club
here. to get down to actual debate on
the wage scale yesterday Afternoon.
Discussion Of the mems demands was
reached late yesterday, and some prog
resa wcs made before the meetins adj
journed, according TO james Gorman,
secretary Of the committee.
In contrast TO Mr.. Corman's view
John l., Lewis, president Of the United
Mine Workers OF America. expressed
the opinion last night that no progress
had been made. Meanwhile plans we're
matured for the appearance at Cleye-
land on Friday Of Mr. Lewis and other
representatives. OF the miners. now IN
New York in connection with the wage
conference.
Union Leaders Meet Secretly
The union leaders went into secret
conference at their headqrarters at tna
Hotel Continental last evening, and
II was said that delegates who were
not going TO Cleveland would leave to-
day for their various districts to pre-
pare the local machinery for carving
0ut the strike plans, which are to be
Formulated at Cleveland. A financial
survey OF both the hituminous and
anthracite organizations 10 20 be made
AZ once, it was said, in preparation for
the strike. Union officials estimate
the strike funds Immediately available
for benefits TO be $4,000, 900, of which
sum 100000 ia said 10 be in The inter
national organization treasury.
The strike order calling out the Non
in the bitunlnous fields on April had
not materially altered the situation,
nor had it obliterated the possibility
Of further negotiations, Levi said
yesterday. The men are still willing
TO meet the operators for the purpose
ment, he said, placing responsibility
on the operators Tor refusal to confer.
Declares Statement Untrue
Shown a statement issued by the Ma
tiooal Industrial Conference Board. in
the wages Of anthracite coal miners
since 1914 is from 152 per cent to 16G
per cent, Lewis unhesitatinely declared
that the statement waa untrue.
"The irreasc is about 65 per cent, TIC
more" he said, "nnd I Ghinl. that the
operators would admit that figure is
correct. Everybody knows that the NJ
tional Industrial Conference Board IS
an organization of employers opposed
80 organized labor. The figures in this
statement have 10 value, because they
are based upon conditions which Go hot
exist. Three increases in the wago
rate have been granted since 19t6-twc
Of 10 cents ton and one amounting to
"a cents a Ton. To say thai wages have
increased 100 per cent since 1919 t.
Untrue, ridiculous and absurd"
The miners leader eimiar,y mad
light Of the reported declaration al
Frank Harrington, leader Of the iii
nois mine workers and long an oppo-
nent of Lewis within the union, TO the
effect that the officers of the interna-
tional had exceeded their authority ID
calling a strike while the wage con
ference was still going forward.
"Farrington's statement is inconse-
quential," Lewis said 1T. makes 70
difference what harrington says, the
miners in Illinois VIII come out or
April /. Just as the miners VIII come
out in Tho other states