The New York herald., 1922-07-17
MINE PEACE NEAR
Government Expects a
Settlement by Negoti-
alton, but Insists on
Action Today.
BOTH SIDES CONFER
Operators Are Expected to
Make Conditional Ac-
ceptance of Terms.
CAUCUSING IN GROUPS
Employers Reply Is Due to Be
in the Presidents Hands
by Noon.
CAUCUsING IN GROUPS

Special Dispatch to THE rev YORK HrmArn.
New York Herald Bureau. \
Washington. ID. C., July 49, /
Hope was entertained here tonight
that the coal strike may yet be settled
by negotiation. and desperate efforts
are being made to prevent spread Of
the railroad strike. Possible negotia-
tions will not be prolonged and the in
dustrial situation will come to a head
tomorrow.
The hopeful view entertained con-
cerning the coal strike was due to the
attitude of the bituminous coal opera
tors and the Interpretation generally
placed to-day upon the seemingly fiat
rejection of the Presidents offer of
arbitration by John L. Lewis. head of
the United Mine Workers, which made
1t seem less final than when first made
public.
The bttuminous coal operators met
here tonight to formulate their an
swer to President Harding's arbitra-
tion proposal. but adjourned final con-
sideration Of their reply until to-mor-
row morning.
Representative operators who ar
rived tonight claimed the interpreta-
ton placed upon the Presidents pro-
posal In the White House statement
Of yesterday made it necessary for
them to give it further consideration
and to caucus on it by groups. 1t was
decided to meet at II A. NJ. tomorrow.
and 1t Is expected the operators reply
will be in the Presidents hands by
noon.
Possible negotiations that may be en-
tered into will not be prolonged. and it is
expected that TIE Industrial crisis will
come to a head tomorrow.
1t was intimated by individual opera
tors that their reply to the President
would be a conditional acceptance. and
they would frame their reply so the
door might be left open for further
negotiations.
The Government continued its atti-
tude of readiness but Is announcing no
decisions pending the result of the de-
liberations of the coal operators. which
the anthracite miners. who will submit
their reply to the Presidents proposal
at the same time.
GOvernunent Prepared.
The policy committee of the miners
also meets here tomorrow, and II Is
expected the members will remain in
Washington for some time. giving color
to the belief that the miners themselves
anticipate there would be further efforts
to settle the controversy.
The President Is known to be extreme
ly loath TO take the drastic steps that
will be necessary to break the strike IL
his purpose can be attained In some
other way.
In spite of the feeling of hope that
prevailed tonight that the coal strike
situation was not hopelessly deadlocked
beyond the possibility of further nego-
tiation. the Government is not discount
ing the seriousness of the industrial
impasse.
Whatever negotiations the PRESIDENT
may enter into regarding the coal strike.
II was made plain here there will be no
delay in reaching a decision. The reply
OF the coal operators and of the anthra-
cite miners to the Presidents arbitration
proposal will be at the White House to-
morrow morning, and from that time
events will move quickly. III the devel-
opments OF the day show there is no
chance of reaching an accommodation
in the coal strike the Administration
plans are complete for the next step.
The President already has made IL plain
he believes his powers are far reaching.
Continued on Page Two.