New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-03
Operators Reject Central
Field Basic Scale and
Men Veto Any Separate
District Negotiations
Government Has
Radically New Plan
Will Propose National
Conference Taking In
Every Affected Interest

WASHINGTON, July 2.-The demand
Of the mine workers union for collec-
tive bargaining in all the soft coal dis
trlcts comprising the four state CEN
tral competitive field as basis for
negotiating wage settlement was
fatty rejected to-day by the operators
representatives at joint session of
the two sides called into conference by
PRESIDENT Harding. President John L.
Lewis OF the United Mine Workers and
his district presidents likewise turned
down on formal vote the operators
proposal that settlements be negotiated
independently in the various districts.
This deadlock, after a two-hour Sun
day afternoon meeting at the American
Red Cross headquarters, is declared
more apparent than real. The refusals
of either miners or operators even to
consider the proposals of the other are
regarded by the government officials
supervising the conference as only
formalities. 1t merely marks the COM
ps
Meet at 10 This Morning
The meager statement on the second
days deliberations issued by Secretary
Of Labor Davis and Secretary of Com
merce Hoover, jointly, said:
"The operators voted against a con-
ference based upon the central COM
petitve field alone.
"The miners voted against a pro-
posal for independent conferences in
each district.
Upon suggestion for further sepa-
rate meetings of operators and miners
for further consideration of methods,
the conference adjourned until 10
o'clock Monday"
Neither the government, the opera
tors nor the miners had Leld out the
slightest hope that there would be an
agreement to either Of the two pro-
posals. Therefore, to-day's action con-
tanned no element Of surprise, nor are
its consequences regarded as seriously
affecting the Presidents effort to bring
the warning sides together. It was but
the logical opening move, it is pointed
out, and means that the conference is
now about to face its real work.
National Plan Likely
Although both operators and miners
participating are observing in the most
strict sense the adm onition for silence
of President Harding in his greeting
yesterday, it was obvious tonight that
the Administration will launch imme-
diately an alternate proposal for q
basis of negotiation which will side
step both the plans turned down-if,
indeed, such proposal was not infor-
mally advanced by Secretary Hoover
before the adjournment to-day.
This alternative suggestion is for
tional in scope, which would take in
every possible affected interest. The
details of the plan are unknown, but it
is declared to present the whole prob
lem before the conferences in light
entirely different from that in which it
has been viewed up to the present.
AS Government Sees 1t
AS summed up by one official closely
connected with the conference, the
problem, from the governments point
of view, is:
First, to follow the natural step of
getting the two sides together and let
ting them take the initiative. The
form of their demands was we'll
known to the country. Both have stood
firm, and there was no hope that they
could agree on an acceptance Of either
or find compromise between the two
plans.
"The problem was to find an agree
ment somewhere in this original circle,
or go above it and create a new one
entirely new ground. Since it was
foregone that this must be done, all
energies have been concentrating upon
it as the real kernel Of the whole prob
lem of how to get them together on the
matter of wages"
Separate conferences were held by
the operators and miners following the
adjournment Of the joint session. 1t
is understood they were to caucus on
the principle at least of the new plan
advanced on behalf Of the government.
Davis Gives Strong Hint
A strong hint that new and definite
proposal formally would be presented
was given by Secretary Davis, when he
seid tonight:
II am extremely optimistic. To-mor-
row ought to bring something they can
vote for"