Evening star., 1922-08-01
Indiana Owners
Quick to Re-
ject Plan.
MEET MONDAY
AT CLEVELAND
Union Official Also
Summons Policy
Committee.
By the Associa ted Press.

BY the Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA, August IA
joint wage conference of operators
and miners Of the central competitive
bituminous fields. to be held in Cleve-
land next Monday for the purpose of
negotiating g. basic agreement de.
signed to terminate tho present coal
strike, was called today by John L.
Lewis. international president of the
United Mine Workers.
President Lewis also summoned the
general policy committee Of the
union to meet in Cleveland at the
same time for the purpose of acting
promptly upon developments as they
may occur in the joint wage confer
once. All men will remain on strike
until an agreement or a definite un-
derstanding is reached.
Invitation to Operators.
The following telegram was sent to
the operating interests in the central
competitive field. which includes
western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois:
h1LADELf d1A. "a,
August 1. 1922.
In behalf of the United Mine Work.
ers, I am herewith. inviting the coal
operators of the central competitive
field to meet in joint interstate con-
ference at the Hollenden Hotel. Cleve-
land. Ohio, at 10 o'clock am. Monday,
August Z. 1922, for the purpose of me-
gotiating a basic wage agreement de-
signed to terminate the present sus-
pension in the mining Industry 1
express the sincere hope that the in
possible to participate in the Joint
(Signed) JOHN L. LEWIS,
President United Mine Workers Of
America"
-. Censiders PuBlie- Welfare.
In connection with the call for the
interstate conference President Lewis
gave out the following statement:
In issuing an invitation to the coal
operators OF the central competitive
neid to assemble in joint conference
in Cleveland on August z, I am actu-
ated by the highest considerations Of
public welfare and the impelling
necessity for an early adjudication
of the issues involved in the bitumin-
Gus and anthracite coal fields.
This strike, unparalleled in it's
Is now in its eighteenth
week, and constitutes an Industrial
convulsion which menaces the finan-
cial and social fabric of our nation.
Aside from the tremendous personal
sacrifices SO bravely endured by the
mine workers. the strike is exacting
penalties from every citizen of our
land. and Is clogging the channels of
commerce and disturbing the realms
of finance and credit throughout the
civilized world. Its effect will con-
tinue to be felt long after its termina-
tion. and the burden will fall heaviest
upon those least able to bear it.
TN consideration of these facts, and
Notwithstanding the powerful posi-
tion of advantage now enjoyed by the
mine workers. we have resolved to
again attempt to assemble a confer
and reason predominate. We are able
to fight indefinitely. but much prefer
the pursuits of peace to the Ills of
Industrial warfare. We feel that the
American public will support our
offer to meet at the conference table
and will encourage the corporate in
terests involved to have their repre-
sentatives present.
Locks to Early Settlement.
"The making of a basic settlement
in the central competitive field will
permit of an immediate following
settlement in all of the outlying
bituminous coal districts and should
pave the way for an immediate ad-
justment in the anthracite coal fields
as we'll Such a result will be ac-
claimed by every citizen. Those who
block the success of such a conference
by refusal to participate should,
therefore, be made to bear full re-
sponsibility for the continuing situa-
tion."
It Is expected the makeup Of the
conference will Follow as nearly as
possible those of other years. The
miners will probably be represented
by eight men from each of the four
states. The representation of the
operators will depend upon the num-
Der that respond to the call. It has
been repeatedly stated by leaders of
the union that a conference would be
called as soon as assurances were
had that sufficient tonnage would be
represented to make possible q basic
wage agreement. Nothing could be
learned as to the amount Of tonnage
pledged to attend the meeting.
OPERATORS HOLD BACK.