The Arvada enterprise., 1922-08-17
Prospect Considered Bright for
Early Settlement Of the
Coal Miners Strike.
PROPOSALS FOR COMPROMISE
President Hardins's Final Suggestion
for Ending Railway Strike Under
Observation-Disclosures Men
Are Rsstlese-Frsneh Plans
Concerning Germany op.
posed by Other Allies.
ey COWARD W. PIcKARo


UNLESS the coal operators. the off,
~ cinls Of the miners union and the
authorities In Washington are badly Off
In their guessing, the coal strike Is nl-
most over. The fOur-state conference
called by President Lewis In Cleve-
land was considering favOrably this
agreement:
1. A -four state" basic contract,
perhaps expanded to include north.
ern West Virginia. under which tho
old wages and working conditions In
the contract which expired last March
81 will be continued until next April I.
2. A fact finding body to be ret up
under approval or BY appointment Of
President Harding to find out what Is
the matter with the coal industry and
what cnn be done to straigllten 1t out
Definite action il being delayed in
hope that the Illinois and lndi-
ana operators will change their minds
and participate. Hitherto the Oper-
atOrs have sought to break away from
the idea Of central competitive dis
trict on which the miners insist. by
getting some producers from each Of
the four states into the agreement.
irrespective Of how small n minority
Of production they may represent, the
United Mine Workers argue they car
~ their contention by getting set.
kement on a four state basis. But the
contract will be binding only upon
those who sign up. and Illinois, which
produces about twice as much nv any
other state In the central field, will
have only . few individual signers. the
big associations standing pat on their
own proposals.. However, the theory
most generally expressed at the con.
ference was that once mines In the
East beGin TO open up. there will he
Q rush on the part Of Illinois and In
dinna producers to sign up.
In Washington the government of'l-
cinls were predicting the early settle
ment Of the bituminOus strike through
the adoption OF compromise agree
mcnt embracing these features:
Restoration OF Inst year's wage
scnle until next March. with continue
tion Of the check-on system.
Creation Of a coal commission to In.
vextIgnte the situation ind to recon-
mend new agreement.
PO~tpOnement Of further controversy
until next spring. by which time the
proposed invest CATION will Ike com.
pleted.
1t wns reported TINT President A.
n. Ogie Of t:e National Conl nssocin-
tiOn WINS favorable TO this plan nnd
that Senrtor Mckinley had ndvice,
that the Illinois operators were In.
clincd 10 enter 1such mn agreement
Governor McCrny's effort to reopen
Indlnp% mines under military guard
proved more Of gesture thnn nm nc.
compiishment. Very little coal was
prosiuce,l during the week and most
81 the men employed deserted. fearing
for their lives. The governor intimat'
ri that II all other plans for averiInu
q fue, famine In the state failed. con'
Wet labor would b employed to get
out ct,ai under martial law. On the
other hand, the Impeachment Of Me-
Cray for sending troops Into the ct'sl
aeld was demanded by Q mass meet
ina Of strikers and union iab6r men
at Tsre Haute. =.
Il was The general belief that u
pesssst psossiatioos fall 70 end the
strife, PresiAeat Hsr6iug Will ssasa
ths mines and opesate them under
euard OF federal troops. That HI
night await ths sanction Of coasrea'
foe such Q eoarss WAS Indicated b.
The fact that ~ euskested to the Re
puhlteam leaders of the house the de
slrsbility Of naistaining full member