New-York tribune., 1922-09-29
Coal Unions See
Strike Panacea
I'm Joint Parley
No Conflict Next Spring
if Cleveland Conference
Does Work Cut Out for
1t, Mine Workers Say
Permanent Peace, Too
Definite Move for Indus
trial Anity Taken With
The New Arrangements

From The I'ribune,s IgashtnotoB Bureau
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2S.--According
to statement given out here tonight
by Ellis Searles, editor of "The United
Mine Workers Journal" there will be
no strike of coal miners next spring
and no serious conflict between miners
and operators if the joint conference
which opens at Cleveland next Mon
day does the work that is cut out for it.
This conference will bring together
bltuminous operators from all over the
country and representatives, of the
United Mine Workers of America from
every organized field, the purpose
being TO advise a method for the nego-
tiation of the next wage agreement
to take the place of the present agree
ment, which expires on March 80, 1923.
In the Cleveland agreement, which
settled the recent strike of coal miners,
is this clause:
This joint conference shall appoint
committee of equal numbers of rep
resentative operators and miners, which
shall formulate a method to be followed
by the bituminous coal industry in the
negotiation of wage scale agreements
to become effective April /, 1929, and
the method so formulated shall be re-
ported to the joint conference to be
held January 3.
Meet on Contract January 8
"This is the arrangement that should
prevent any suspension of mining op-
erations next spring." says the state
ment of the United Mine Workers. alt
is the first time in the history of the
coal mining industry that machinery
has been set up within the industry for
the prevention of strikes and lock-
outs, and it is one of the longest steps
ever taken toward permanent industrial
peace III this country. If both sides
enter the conference next Monday with
an honest purpose and the intention to
carry out the spirit of the agreement,
and we helieve they will, there should
be no difficulty whatever in the final
negotiation of new agreement and
the maintenance of steady operation
OF the mines next spring"
Fact-Finding Commission
1t was also stipulated in The CIeve-
land agreement that at the conference
next Monday fact-fnding commission
shall be created which will make full
investigation of every phase of the
coal industry and prepare report and
recommendations III time to be avail
able to miners and operators at the
joint conference in January. This COM
mission will be composed of miners
and operators, and will be wholly with
in the industry. One very important
duty of this commission. as set out in
the agreement is as follows:
The commission shall consider the
encouragement of a proper spirit Of
obligation and responsibility on the
part of all parties toward contractual
obligations and the establishment of
proper machinery, both local and ma
tional, for prompt determination and
settlement of any points or dispute in
any local, state or district contract,
without resorting to strike Or lockout.
The statement of the United Mine
Workers of America points out that
"this is definite, progressive move
for industrial peace that will surely
meet with public approval Tor if car
ried out it will give assurance to the
public that hereafter it will not be
compelled to suffer Inconvenience
through strike or lockout because of
disputes between miners and opera
tors"