The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-07-19
Still a Chance
ToBriiDg Peace
To Mine Fields
1y DAVID LAWRENCE
tcopyrtsht by The Iatslltysresrl

Washington July Is. President
Harding still has an opportunity to
settle the coal strike by personal Inter-
ventior.
This correspondent has been given an
authoritative outline Of the miners
position which would seem to indicate
that II Mr.. Harding will assemble 4
Joint conference OF miners representa-
ttres and operators OF the old central
competitive field and propose as ne did
once before that the miners return to
work on the old wage scale until next
April or thereabouts pending q conf
missions inquiry. the proposal would
be Immediately accepted by the miners
Miners officials who did not wish TO
De quoted at this time but whose views
are absolutely hnal In their own head
quarters pointed that the president in
reality has never brought to Washing
ton enough operators 10 embrace the
union fields and that in dealing with A.
NJ Ogle, president OF tho National Coal
association, Mr.. Harding was IN reality
in contact only with a small group OF
operators. who reflect the viewpoint OF
the non-union coal fields. Mr.. Ogle. II
ls contended was elected president Of
rhe coal association on the platform OF
no-interstats conferences and that when
Mr. Harding asked him 10 bring opera
tors 20 Washington he brought the men
who believed In that platform. . group
dominated by considerations arising In
rho non-unicn held rather than the
union helds.
Tho Miners' View
The miners state positively that
President Harding has really had no
contact with the majority OF the opera
tors Of the union felds who desire 70
negotIats for an immediate return OF
the miners on the old scale OF wages.
The arbitration proposal was rejected
because II did not embrace enough or
the operators from union helds. let
alone the non union districts.
What Is sought today by the miners
IS a conference OF operators from the
central competitive neld or national
conference OF all the operators Mr..
Harding. they say. has received accept
ances Of his arbitration proposal from
an unrspresentative group of operators.
Fully 13o, 100000 tons Of coal are mined
In Districts whose operators declined to
accept tho arbitraticni
As FOR the suggestion that coal win
be mined II troops are sent to the coal
aelds to protect the strikeoreaSers, TINS
Is nouted as the height OF absurdity oy
union officials. There are $4,000 men
On strike In Pennsylvania alone said
the miners official. "and even II one
thousand mines were surrounded. the
amount OF coal that would ee mined
would be inhnites!mal
The sure way 10 keep union miners
Prom, going back to work is 10 send
troops 70 the mines.
Practical side Unsettled
So the practical side Of the question
Is stin unsettled II the government
,ook over the mines and agreed TO pay
ths old scale OF wages, the miners
would 20 back in Jifry. They argue
,hsy want TO deal with single body -
A, least with a group whose policy VIII
bs uniform. Government operation
would render simple any wage scale ne
cotiatIon as the governments woro
uould be hack OF the agreement. The
administration here doesn't want 70 get
into the coal mining business. Mr.. hard
,,r's next move. OF course. Is TO protect
-,ipars who will work but after lapse
~ n short time the futility or this plan
,.iu ba realized because the nation ;
ooa, supply will not be vistoly increased
Tba,'s vhv the miners insist that MT.
uardtn1 ran settle tho strike oy ad-
arnsx,nx Invitations not 10 one man or
owe small group but TO the operators IN
.,.s~v ons OF the thirty Ave mining dis
go. M that miners and operators can
zotiat. directly The prediction Is
r,,Sa that enough OF the operators
,,.on,5 come 70 make possible an agree
,.,t s1onx the lines OF the present
-. seal. with a provision Tor com
T-.t., % inquire into costs and facts
-.sicn future scales could be based