Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1922-07-07
PRESIDENT OPENS
COAL MINE MEET
Operators and Union Chiefs
Clash at Conference.
ORDERED TO END COAL TlEUP
Harding Tells Both Factions Govern
ment Wants Strike Settled Imne-
diateIy-U. S. Will Force
Production.

Washington, July 3.-After being adj
monished by President Harding to
! settle their dispute, in default of
which he said the government would
intervene to avert a fuel famine. fifty
coal operators and mine union officials
put in the hottest day of the year try
ing TO find a basis for negotiations to
end the coal strike.
When the conference called by the
President adjourned, it appeared that
little, if any, progress had been made
in the direction of getting the antag-
onistic interests together on a mode
Of procedure.
Miners and Operators Clash.
The session, held in secret at the
suggestion of the President. was
marked by a series of clashes between
John l.. Lewis, president and other
officers of the United Mine Workers,
on the one hand, and the operators of
the strike zone in the bituminous and
anthracite fields, on the other.
The union leaders stubbornly held
to their contention that the only salts
factory basis of settlement is either
national wage agreement or an
agreement covering the central COM
petitive field The operators with
equal obstinacy held that they would
not be justified in making any but dis
trict or state agreements.
The conference will be continued
In the effort to find common ground.
President Asks Settlement.
The representatives Of the operators
and the union met in the executive of
fee at the White House at 10 a. M,
where President Harding welcomed
them and formally opened the confer
ence with a statement of the desire
of the government for immediate set
Element Of the strike.
He gave the contending factions a
glimpse of the big stick in the back
ground which the administration is
prepared to use to force the full re.
sumption of coal production if a vol.
untary settlement be not forthcoming
but he did not specify what the drastic
action might be-
Hoover and Davis Aid.
The President placed at the dis
pOSal of the conference the services
of Secretary of Commerce Hoover and
Secretary of Labor Davis, both OF
whom were at the White House, and
Of Secretary of the Interior Fall, who
attended the session later in the day
at the Interior department.
Mr.. Harding announced that by
agreement A. M. Ogle, president of the
National Coal association, would act
as chairman and William Green, sec
rotary of the United Mine Workers
would serve as secretary Of the con
ference.
1t was decided to split the groups
of operators and miners into two con
ferences, employers and employees in
the bituminOus coal fields meeting with
Secretaries Hoover and Davis at the
Red Cross building, and those of the
anthracite coal fields with Secretary
of the Interior Fall
Problems Are Different.
IL was duInlCCed LnaC the problems
confronting the two groups were diff
ferent in many essentials and coult
nor properly be discussed at a john
meeting
Secretary Hoover, asked if progress.
had been made, replied:
Whenever you get anything of
your chest it represents progress"
Secretary Davis, Intercepted, sale
he was happy and optimistic"
Among the operators from the mid
die west were Edward G. Smith, presi
dent of the Iowa association; Ric,
Miller, president of the Illinois asso
'iation; FL. G. Adams, president Of tn,
Central Illinois association; e. D
Logsden, ]. B. Pauley, and Hugl
Shirkie of the Indiana association
and Robert M. Randall, president
the Michigan association.