The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-09-08
HARD COAL MEN
Get OLD WAGES
Anthracite Strike Is Ended by
Agreement With Operators.
BOSSES YIELD TO APPEAL
Harding Urged the Mine Owners to
Accede to the Proposals Advanced
by Senators Pepper and
Reed


Philadelphia, Sept. Am agree
ment to end the protracted anthracite
suspension Gin the immediate future"
was reached by the operators and
miners in a session here. The men
will return to work on the basis or
the old wage agreement to extend I'M
til August 81, 1923.
Announcement of the acceptance OF
peace proposals followed joint meet
ing of the operators and union repre-
resentatives In the offices Of Senator
Pepper (Pa.). With Senator Reed,
he had proposed terms which the
miners accepted last week.
Acceptance by the owners came
later, and was expressed IN resolu-
lions which they made public shortly
before entering the joint session.
Harding's mandate" Received.
Announcement of the agreement
was made by Senators Pepper and
Reed, who stated that the agreement
also followed communication re-
ceived from President Harding by the
parties to the controversy.
Under date of September 1 the
President wrote:
"The public interest transcends any
partisan advantage that you might
gain by further resistance. urge you
in the name of public welfare to ac-
cede to the proposal that has been
advanced by Senators Pepper and
Reed"
The fixing of August 81, 1923, for
the period of the new contract was
a compromise The operators wanted
the agreement to expire March 81,
1923, while the mi4ers desired it ex-
tended to March 81, 1924.
The text of the resolution adopted
by the operators follows:
Whereas, the anthracite coal pro-
ducing companies for the last five
months have been endeavoring by
every means In their power to secure
a downward revision of wages In the
interest of the public and the In
dustry;
whereas the enforced period of
nonproduction has created a situation
in which the United States govern
ment has now interviewed in order
that coal may be produced and the
consumer supplied;
Whereas, the President of the
United States has urgently requested,
in the interest and welfare of the
public, that anthracite coal should be
produced;
whereas, Senators Pepper and
Reed on August 90 made a specific
proposal for the settlement of all
matters in controversy, which proposal
has the Endorsement of the President;
Surrender to Appeals"
Resolved, That while we are still
of the opinion that anthracite wages
should be reduced and that even the
present emergency does not justify the
continuation of the old scale, we new
ertheless, in conformity with the in
sistent appeals of the President of
Pennsylvania, and the public, accept
the proposal made by Senators Pepper
and Reed, as follows:
81. The contracts in force March
81, 1922, to be extended to August 81,
1923.
SO. The production of coal to begin
at once
"3. The organization of operators
and miners to join in a recommends
ton to congress that legislation be
forthwith enacted creating a separate
anthracite coal commission, with au-
thority to investigate and report
promptly on every phase of the In
dustry.
"4. The continuance of production
after the extension date, to be upon
such terms as the parties may agree
upon in the light of the report of the
commission.
"And be 1t further.
Resolved, That the subcommittee of
the general policies committee of the
anthracite operators be authorized to
enter into an agreement with the of
f1cials of the United Mine Workers.
embodying the proposals above
quoted"
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