The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-08

verse 70 q uiatrtct contract II viii
be Satisfied With . Contract on AZ
most any bash. ndianas position
ts perhaps almost the same but q
opposed to setting any basis wage
scale, this apparently being q case
where Judge Anderson Is too close
az homo. Ohio Is split. Eastern
Ohio perhaps Is satisfied with any
type of agreement even to tho ex.
tent Of the old ; four.state agree.
ment. Because OF keen composition
Central and Southern Ohio desire q
district agreement. Keen competi.
ton Is not experienced as greatly
In Illinois and Indiana as some OF
the other Central Competitive
states, 1t Is believed. Northern
West Virginia, Kansas, Missouri
and in TACT all outlying Districts
are lined up solidly for district
agreements.
Future Prospects
What will be worked gut in Chi.
cago next month Is mat:st Of
Conjecture. ThJ t.sis of seize.
meIlt now looms up rs the bops Of
col tention. TJ some observers
aLother coal strike Is not a vague
+. ssitility.
The way things stand now, and
II they continued that way until
next month, little else can be ex-
pected. The report OF the Fact
Finding Commission Of the gov
eminent can hardly change the
basis Of settlement, unless an
anti-strike clause would be in
cluded, which is hardly to be ex-
pected.
The solid front put up by oper-
ators against a basic wage scale
and the old Central Competitive
Field plan may at least leave the
Impression that operators can
not be accused Of entering into
a conspiracy at wage fixing in the
federal courts as previously. The
question then that may come UP
is the the old Central Competitive
Field, as proposed again by tho
miners.
The trend Of public sentiment,
as we'll as any influence created
by the Fact Finding Commission
in the coal industry, may be a
dominant factor in shaping up
matters at the next conference be-
tween the operators and the
miners,
Operators Plan.
The proposed district agree
ment plan, which the operators
agreed upon unanimously but
which refused by the miners Of
ticlals, is as follows:
I'VE, your committee on resolu-
even upon the making Of a wage
and recommendations carrying out
the purpose OF the resolutions
adopted In joint conference Of min
ers and operators, at Cleveland,
Ohio, October 4, 1922, which reads
In part:
That committee. Of two min
ers and two operators from each
district OF the United Mine Work
ers OF America represented here
by appointed, which committee
shall be empowered to work out
ways and means for the future
scale making and make recommen-
dations to arjoint conference and
a future date not later than Jan.
uary Ord, 1923.
Submit the following for your
considerations:
sd The uniform and intlexib.
lie policy pursued by the United
Mine Workers OF America n the
past Of fixing basic wage scale
in one district grouping OF a lin
tied number Of states producing a
minority portion OF the bltuminous
tonnage Of the country, and by the
Capitalization Of power enforcing
said wage scale upon all other dis
tricts Of the country without re.
gard to the Competitive conditions
affecting the other said districts is
rapidly destroying the business OF
the operators In many union fields,
and is the chief contributing cause
Of over development of the indus
try.
"There are indictments for cc6-
spiracy now pending in the federal
court of the district of Indiana
against representatives OF the
mine workers and representatives
OF the operators who have former
ly participated in the negotiation
OF wage agssements for the Central
Competitive field (ohio, Illinois,
Indiana and western Pennsylvanla)
make 1t imperative that a new
method OF negotiating. wage agree
ments be formulated.
Therefore, we recommend
"(a) That each Of the United
Mine Workers districts jointly re-
presented in this conference be
constituted a wage scale making
body with full right OF autonomy
to negotiate wage scale agreement
based upon competitive conditions
found existing and affecting each
such district, and further, each
such district shah be- vested with
the right to join with any other
district or districts as may be mu.
tually satisfactory to the mine
workers and the operators of the
district or districts affected for