New-York tribune., 1922-09-04
Union Calls Off
Strike; Miners
On Job Sept. III
Wage Scale Committee Ac-
cepts Agreement, Lewis
Acclaiming Pepper Plan,
as Victory for Workers
Men to Celebrate To-day
Peace, Including Inquiry of
Industry, To Be Ratified
by Convention Thursday

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 3.-Declaring
that the peace plan for the settlement
of ths anthracite coal strike submitted
by Senator Pepper on Saturday will be
acclaimed "by every right thinking
| man throughout the hard coal region" "
| the wage scale committee of the United
Mine Workers tonight ratified the
proposal thereby bringing the strike
/ officially to an end. The mine leaders
also unanimously approved the provi-
/ sion OF the Pepper plan to form a
investigate conditions In the hard coal
! fields
The $4,000 anthracite miners will be
back at work Monday, September IL,
the leaders announce.
Immediately after the conference ce
John l.. Lewis, president of the United
Mine Workers, made the following
statement:
"The terms of the contract represent
/ most decisive victory for the miners
and mark the failure of the tremendous
drive of the operators for a reduction
in wages and lowering of the stand
ard of living Of the anthracite mine
workers.
Fight on Arbitration Explained
The forces arrayed against the mine
workers were strong and were aided
by powerful financial interests. AS
the industrial battle progressed and it.
became manifest to the operators that
they would be unsuccessful in impos-
ing lower wages upon the mine work
ers, determined effort was made to
compel the workers to accept the the
ory of arbitration of future wage diff
ferences as g substitute for the princi-
pie of collective bargaining between
the representatives of both sides which
prevailed in the past. The representa-
tives of the mine workers set their
faces against such proposition, easily
recognizing that the acceptance of ar
bitration would in the future strip the
workers Of their collective power and
nullify the strength of their union.
SIN consideration Of the importance
and magnitude of the questions in
volyed, it is with pardonable pride that
we have participated In the negotia-
will be submitted to the anthracite
mine workers in convention, which
maintains the rate of wages without
change as they existed in the former
agreement, and which does not contain
to the least degree commitment to the
arbitration theories espoased by the
operators"
objectors Over-Ruled
Reports reached this city tonight
from cities in the anthracite region
to the effect that the rank and
file Of the miners were not pleased
with the date agreed upon for the
present wage scale to terminate, but
after the district vice-presidents and
other local officers of the district or
ganizations met In conference with
President Lewis and the district presi-
dents it was decided to put the agreed
settlement before the tri-district con-
vention, with the recommendation that
it be ratified and mining begin on the
following Monday.
It was the first time in the history Of
the anthracite wage negotiations that
miners have met on a Sunday, the
precedent being broken in order to get
aulck action. Leaders expressed the
opinion that the hard coal mines would
be in operation by the first of next
week, and that normal production would
be quickly reached. The production is
estimated to be about 40,000,000 tons
behind last year.
The terms of the agreement settling
the strike as announced last night are
az IoiioWs.
The contract in force March 81, 1922
to be extended to August 81, 1923.
The production Of coal to begin at
once.
The miners and operators to s'join
| in recommendation to Congress that
| legislation be forthwith enacted Great
ling a separate anthracite coal COM
mission with authority to investigate
and report promptly on every phase
of the industry"
No Suspension During Farley
"The continuance or production after
the extension date TO be upon such term.
as the parties may agree upon in ths
light of the report Of the commission.'
The men will return to the mines
/ es soon as the agreement has beer
ratified by the tri-district convention
4 Mr.. Lewis said late tonight after tn,
meeting of the committee. The con
/ vention will accept the plan, members
/ OF the committee said. They declared
that It Is likely that many Of tbs min
i tceatiavsd on nexs pass,