The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-08-08
Plan Provides for Resumption
Of Production Under Old
Wage Scale
Cleveland Plan May be Pre-
sented to Indiana And
Illinois Operators
President Lewis, Of Mine
Workers, Believes End Of
Strike Is Near

Workers, Believes End vi
Strike Is Near
Cleveland, O., Aug. 7.-(By the AS
sociated Press)-Plans for settlement
of the nationwide soft coal strike un'
der definite plan that may result IN
the making Of wage agreements Oh
substantially a national basis Will De
presented to a conference here wed
nesday OF coal operators and miners
officials.
The plan provides for resumption OF
coal for production by union miners
under the wage scales that existed
when the strike began last April !,
and for the appointment Of an advls'
orv committee of inquiry within the
coal industry, the personnel OF this
committee to be approved by Presl'
dent Harding.
Existence Of the plan. which has
been approved by some operators. be-
came known today when union or
acials and operators. controlling about
one-third OF the output OF the centra!
competitive field, met both separately
and jointly with a view Of taking &C
ton toward breaking the coal strike.
The Joint conference adjourned until
D. m. Wednesday. by which time 1t
was announced that it was expected
that other substantial interests would
ioin the meeting.
May Extend Field.
The plan. which was understood to
have the approval OF John L. Lewis,
president OF the miners, and Alfred NJ.
Ogle. president Of the National Coal
association, may be presented to 1ndi-
ana and Illinois operators tomorrow,
their meetings to be held in 1ndianapo-
lis and Chicago for the purpose OF de-
Gliding who will join the conference
here. Confidence was expressed to-
night that the Indiana and Illinois
operators would join the conference
Wednesday, and il was added that
operators were expected from several
districts outside the competitive field.
including West Virginia and some
southwestern states.
When tho first session ended today a
statement was issued by hr. Lewis and
Michael Gallagher. prc-ident of the
Pittsburgh Vein Operators Association
OF Ohio. as follows:
1T was agreed that the conference
after being organized sho ould recess to
r. m. Wednesday, August Q. This
action was taken in the belief that
other substantial interests would an
nounce their participation in the con-
ference by that time"
In issuing the statement. Mr.. Lewis
and Mr.. Gallagher refused to define
whether the substantial interest were
entirely within the Central field. In
dicat!ons, however, were that they eX-
pccted a majority Of the operators OF
tho Central field and also those from
several other fields.
Secs End Of Strike
Mr. Lewis declared that he was ''of
tho opinion that this week will see the
end Of the bituminous coal controversy"
As soon ms this is accepted, tho union
officials are expected to ask the antra-
cite operators 10 renew negotiations on
wage scale that were broken off in
June. In calling tho conference to
order. Mr. Lewis did not refer 10 II as
meeting Of the operators from the
Central Competitive field, but mentioned
the gathering az a "joint conference OF
miners and operators BESIDES choos-
Ing Mr. Gallagher as It's chairman. the
conference elected William Green. sec
rAtary-treasurer Of the United Mine
Workers OF America As It's secretary.
Under the plan OF settlement to be
submitted Wednesday. the wages Of tho
miners paid under the scale that cx
pired last March 81. would he renewed
until March 81. 1929. and meanwhile tho
advisory commission would decide what
ratifications as TO wages would be made
for the future. Tho commission also
would be authorized TO investigate all
questions affecting the coal industry and
though Its powers would he purely ad-
vtsory both operators and union Of
icials here regarded this as an import
ant factor IN settling local strikes.
Tho plan does not specify that any
wage agreement signed under It should
apply only to tho Central COMPETITIVE
field. The question Of whether a single
instrument between the operators and
the union miners for the entire coun-
try would he signed under tho plan Is
left for the decision Of tho conference
opening on Wednesday Regardless OF
tho decision on this question. It was
said authoritstivelv thar the plan con-
templated the settlement Of the strike
for practically all soft coal districts.
Plan Submitted
The first presentation of the plan to
either side Of the controversy came to-
day when II was given 10 members Of
the unions policy committee IN 12S
members under a pledge Of secrecy. Ac-
ceptance Of the plan on the part Of the
union would require action by the policy
committee
Tho provision Of the plan providing
for the re-esta blishment Of the wage
scale that were in force in the last con-
tracts between union miners and opera
tors also carried with Il the agreement
Of tho operators to continue collection
Of union dues from the "check-off"
system and all other provisions OF the
last contracts
While the honc vas held out by the
conferees that 'heir ranks would he in
creased on Wednesday. none Of them
expected repres~n tation from the Pitts
burGh Coal Producers association.
In event Of the plan being adopted
Il vas understood that the union plann-
cd 10 continue the strike wherever the
operators do not Join In the agreement
No ofrIcia, poll nf tn operators at
tending the first joint conference was
taken but the conferees said their mum
her included operators from Indian and
Illinois. Western Pennsylvania and.
Ohio These operators were said 10
control about ono third OF the output
~ the Central Competitive field. In
addition to them. several West vir-
rIria and Central Pennsylvania opera
tors were here as observers.