The Washington herald., 1922-08-09
BALKS COAL PEACE
Cleveland Conference
Lacks Support Sought
BY Ohio Men.
ILLINOIS MINES
SPLIT ON QUESTION
Renewal of Four-State
Pact Held as Possible
Solution.
CLEVELAND. Ohio. Aug. s.-Pros-

CLEVELAND. Ohio. Aug. s.-Pros-
poets Of a peace prley Of national pro-
portions in the coal stfike went a
glimmering tonight when operators
and mine union leaders assembled In
cleveland learned that Indiana opera
tors had definitely refused to attend
the conference here.
This canses the situation to revert
to the same status which prevailed
when the meeting was first called by
John L. Lewis, president Of the mine
workers union. namely. a conference
Of big lake cial shippers seeking to
make an agreement with the unon
representatives of ther employees.
Idications now are that tn elarge
operators of Illinois. Indiana and
Pittsburgh will ignore the conference.
SUB-wlI Meet AS Planned.
Regardless Of the decson of the
Indiana operators. the meeting planned
for tomorrow will be held" said
Lewis.
The scale committee of the Indiana
bituminous operators association an
nounced the organizations decision to
stay away from the Cleveland con-
ference after a meeting today in Terre
Haute.
Illinois operators were split at ad-
ojurnment of their meeting in Chicago
late today. No definite action was
taken. but it is expected they will get
together on some plan when they hold
another session tomorrow.
SUB-Await Troop Protection.
The Illinois meeting was ad-
journed to await action by Gov.
Small. who is in conference with
business and municipal leaders in
hicago considering opening strip
mines under protection of troops.
II the State offers to provide
troops then some Illinois operators
are In favor of opening their strip
mines in the southern part OF the
State. But this scheme is finding
some opposition.
Southwestern coal operators are
standing pat on their demand for a
national arbitration committee 10
settle the strike.
They declared they would not
participate in any national wage
conference, but would insist that
resident HardinPg appoint a fact
finding body with full powers TO
make a basis for a contract for the
period end1ng Aprll. 1873
Enlists We>t vIrginians-
Including in the tonnage repre-
sented tomorrow will be 25,000.O0t
promised by c. r. Keeney. president
Of district No. II OF the mine work
| ers. Keeney said he lined up op-
orators in his West Virginia district
who would represent this additional
| quota.
With the climax of negotiations
only a fe whours distant, operators
and miners leaders said they were
convinced an agreement would be
reached Immediately which will
tend to end the coal strike.
While no official announcement,
was made those who are conversan-
with the situation feel assured the
| bituminous controversy will be set
/ tied on the following basis:
Renewal until March 81. 1923. OF
the agreement which expired March
81. 1922.
Continuation of the check-ofi
system.
Four State Pact Possible.
Everything in fact that the min
ers have been holding out for will
| be guaranteed in the agreement
except the six-hour. five-day week
No mention of the last poin,
| has been made in proceedings-at
least not officially.
Notwithstanding the fact that II
has been declared illegal. an agree
ment similar to the -Four State
compact Will go into effect with
the government agreeing not to
invoke the Sherman antitrust law
according to present indications.
The conference originally was q
| four-State affair. concerning Ohio
part of ePnnsylvania, Indiana and
| Illinois. But reports from outlying
states indicate 1t will eventually
| assume proportions of a meeting
| with national renresenfafinn