Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-22
DEADLOCKED AGAIN

Atlantic City, \. j.. Aug. 21.-(By
A. P.)-Negotiations for a new wage
contract in the anthracite industry
ended abruptly today. leaving un-
relieved the prospect of a suspension
of hard coal mining September /.
Miners Union officials, who walk
ed out of the joint meetings, said
the efforts toward a peaccable adj
justIaont of the conflict on the part
of the industry itself had terminated
because .be operators were unwill-
ing to concede any part of the de-
mand for increased wages made by
the men. The operators asserted
that the breaking point was the I'M
willingness of the union to submit
its demands to the test of arbitration.
Both sides. however, agreed to the
alton to the L. S. Coal Commission
through James A. German, secretary
of the joint conference.
Neither group looked fer any pre-
vention of a protected industrial
struggle in the anthracite district
after Sept. l by any other means
than government intervention,
though s. d. Warmer. chairman of
the operators policy committee, de-
clared he never lost hope" for
peace.
John L. Lewis. president of the
United Mine Workers. made an at
tempt to gloss over the prospect, as
he gave out brief summary of what
had preceded the sudden conclusion
OF the wage conference, which began
Monday.
Time for mincing words hav.
gone by" Mr.. Lewis said. The
mine workers are prepared to enter
an industrial contest Sept. l AMI to
administer to the operators the conf
plete traouncing % their career.
= Since the anthracite operators iE-
tend never to Feceda or compromise
| on any point of working Conditions
| or wdse matters except a defeat in
| fight our people will so into a fight.
We make no request TO the Coal
| CorG mission. We lo).s for no help
| fr)rh any agency, GG"ernment1l or
otherwise. Our pesli2 have tried
out Ilbitrationth VIC nevc' get the
| ofitl TO have issues settled by it
unl,7s we are strons enough TO win
| without it. But tie mine workers
lave always founG reason for dis
! catistaction with ar5.irat'On awards
in tue past.
To-day Mr. Warmer told US that
! the operators would not and could
; not grant any wage increases Sept.
I. There isn't any purpose in fur
tier negotiations after that. We
! feel that the exorbitant and unwar-
ranted profits now being taken in
the industry would allow wage. in
creases without any increase in the
cost OF coal to the consumer. But
regardless of that. suspension Of an
thracite coal production will auto
matically ensue in the anthracite re-
gion on the morning of Septem-
Der l."
Mr.. Lewis reviewed the history Of
recent attempts to reach settle
ment of wages and contract condi-
tons and the coal commissions in
PREVENTION. He remarked that the
unions willingness to let the mines
continue operation had been covered
in n proposal made to the govern
ment agency in New York last week.
1t hinged on the agreement OF the
opera tors to install the CHECK of
system Of collecting union dues; to
accent the conclusion that a wage
increase was necessary; and to abol-
ish any other than eight hour day
employment That was the limit of
concession the mine workers could
make, he insisted. adding that mel
Their the coal commission nor the
operators have paid any attention to
the proposal
Mr.. Warmer, after the break up.
gave n slightly different account of
the days proceedings. insisting that
the split came simply and solely on
the question of arbitration" AS a
last move in the joint session, he
said. the operators had renewed the
offer to arbitrate every point in dis
pute, to keep the mines running, and
to make wage advances retroactive
in case they were awarded later than
September /.
"Mr. Lewis told US further nego-
tiations would be futile" he declared.
yet what more. in the name of rea-
son. can employers offer in order TO
avert a contest?'