The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-04-22
Another Suggested Require
mcnt Calling By President
Harding Of National Confer
encc to Negotiate Bitumin-
GUS Wage Agreement.

New York. April 21.-The coal
miners will declare the strike OH ana
return to work. pending negotiations
OF \ new wage agreement, If congress
will pass 4 Joint resolution or bill aQ-
plying the bituminous coal commlH'
sions award Of 1920 TO AL SOFT coas
operations. Philip Murray. vice presi-
dent Cf the United Mine Workers or
America. declared ut a debate on the
coal strike tonight.
Another requirement for the end II
the difficulty. he said. would be C.
Dmmcndation 10 President Harding o
call a national conference of the rep
reSentatives of all operators ana mine
workers TO neCotiate new agreement
He also recommended as "A permanent
policy for regulating production ana
Stabilizing the industry. the appoint
ment OF "a representative, technlcal
and official commission, charged WIN
the duty Of collecting and analyzing
all the acts and with making souno
and appropriate constructive recon-
mendatons.
The Debate.
The subject debated was. What lies
back Of the coal strike, and what lies
ahcadc" Mr Murray presented the
miners side OF the Controversy. aS!
Thomas II. Watkins. president OF the
PENNSYLVANIA Coal E. Coke Company
the operators viewpoint The puollcs
attitude was interpreted by HarrE A.
Garfield. president Of Williams Col
Icce who was national coal admins
traitor under former President Wilson.
and bv Robert ". Bruere, director OF
the bureau Of industial research.
Nr Murray's suggestions we're Of
fered as solution Of the problem OF
the future in bituminous coal mining
This problem, he said, obviously, was
to Secure a resumption Of operations
on a stable and uniform basis-a basis
which would place the non-union op-
orator on a parity with the union oper-
otor ard which would ultimately pro
vide practical plans for regularl2ing
production and employment and 1or
eliminating ,the wastes TO the con-
sumer which now arise from over
expansion"
Would Bring Unrform'ty.
Tho application of the award OF the
presidents coal commission of NV
70 both union and non-union heids, MI.
Murray stated, would remove from the
union operators "the menace or the
vicious competition OF non-union op-
orators, and bring about uniformity OF
wages and working conditions
AS soon as these conditions were
brought about" he added, there
would be no opposition to national
conference Of operators and mine
workers, and new working agree
ment without doubt would be ncgo'
tia,ed The industry then could re-
sume operations under favorable con-
ditions and await the report or the
coal commission as TO constructive
measures for the permanent solutlon
Of the more fundamental problems OF
over-eypansion and irregularity OF
operation"
CHALLENGE by Watkins
Mr.. Watkins coun;ered with cFaI-
Iencc TO Mr. Murray TO nut the men
to work on II" 1917 scale and save
yourselves and the who!e country !ot
OF trouble
M-. Murray charged his opponent
with being the Alexander Ho~at
anon= the coal operators of western
Pennsylvania" asserting that WATKINS
had disrupted even his own Organization
by us inconsistent policies.
Tho coal operator retorted by chars-
In~ that officials OF the United Nine
Workers OF America were deliberately
melting the workers to class hatred OF
cap!ta! and all IT represents"
Parti oiran:s In the cHchang" were
applauded !nnart;ally by six hundred
"a sh!onahly dressed mon and women
who 81: around banquet tables. in tie
hotel