Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-08-11
PLAN FOR ENDING
COAL STRIKE GETS
PRESIDENT TIAL OK,
Chicago, Aug. l. President Harding, in
a letter to Secretary Honnold, of the Illinois Coal
operators association made public today, declared

he was frank to say l
do not see how your
Workmen can refuse"
the offer made by the mine operators
of Illinois.
"lf terms cannot be settled on so
liberal an Offer the letter contin-
ued. "it is manifest that the mining
situation is very badly tied up and
the government must find for itself
some way of eXtricaton."
The letter was received last night in
answer to a telegram from Mr.. Han
mold detailing the offer made by the
operators last week and rejected by
the miners, The telegram to the
president said:
"The Illinois operators would not
settle the strike except on a basis pro-
viding arbitration and outlined the
offer made to president Harrington of
the Illinois miners to return to work
on the old scale.
The operators adjourned at noon to.
day after making public kilograms
sent to John l.. Lewis and Mr.. Far
rington.
we ask you again." the message
to Harrington said, to carry cut our
contract with us to provide con-
tract to settle the INNINGS scale in
Illinois and we again renew our propo-
sition to open our mines at once on
the old scale and conditions with an
agreed submission of all disputed
points to board of arbitration COM
posed of fair-minded citizens of the
state OF Illinois who are not in any
way connected with the coal industry.
Big illinois CO. Signs.
Chicago, Aug. 1.-The. United Elec.
trio Coal company owning mining
property in Ohio and Illinois has
thrown its Illinois tonnage into the
four state wage conference at Cleve.
land, it was authentically reported
here this morning. The Illinois ca
pacity Of the company's mines was
given as between 100000 and 1,O06.-
900 tons This is the first reported
break in the stand taken by the Illi-
nois operators association.
The move of the United Electric
Coal company came as surprise to
Illinois operators. One of its repre-.
sentatives it was said has been in
regular attendance at the conference
held here and is reported to have fav-
ored no settlement unless on an arbi-
tration basis.
Altho confirmation of this was lack
ing, 1t was understood that the com.
pany's action was taken by the ma
jority stockholders who have not been
present at the Illinois conferences
This was one of the subjects
scheduled for discussion when the Illi-
nois operators went into session to-
day. 1t was expected that a state
ment from the company's representa-
tive would be Forthcoming during
the session.
Try to Blow Up Mine.
Terre Haute, Ind, Aug. 11.-At-
tempts to dynamite the w. f. Wag-
ner coal mine near Toad Hop several
miles west of here, early this morn
ing were frustrated by tbs arrival of
county officials. Several sticks of
the dynamite had been exploded near
the mine.
Lewis Must Back Down: Operators
Chicago Aug. 11.-Illinois coal op-
orators resuming sessions here to-
day insisted that John l.. Lewis, in
ternational president of the mine
must back down on his de-
mands for four-state wage agree
ment covering Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
and Western PENNSYLVANIA. or yield
to arbitration as suggested by Presi-
dent Harding If general and stimuli
taneous peace is to end the coal
strike.