New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-08-17
COAL STRIKE Gould
BE AVERTED..LEWl
President Of Miners Makes State
ment Before Conference

New York, Aug. II. John l.
Lewis, president Of the United Mine
Workers of America today declared
that an anthracite strike September
still could be averted If operators
would abandon the check-off and en-
ter general conference called by the
United States coal commission.
Mr.. Lewis added that there still was
plenty of time in which to reach a
new wage agreement before August
81 If the operators felt so inclined.
Before beginning the third day Of
the parley called by the coal commits
sion Mr.. Lewis said that the way out
of the present difficulty could be
stated in five words
Abandon check-offs and enter
conference"
IF the operators will abandon the
check off as they agreed to the other
day, we will be willing to adjourn
here and resume negotiations at At
lantic City," said Mr.. Lewis. I'VE
will however insist on full recogni-
ton of the union although we will not
insist on barring out other than union
members from mine operators. If
this is agreed to there will still be
ample time to reach an agreement
and avert a strike"
other representatives of the min
ers declared that their side would
stand pat on wage and other de-
mands.
Officials of the miners union
and representatives of mine oper.
ators in the anthracite region
assembled to try to give their
last words to the United States coal
commission in the industrial contro-
versy which is threatening to bring
about stoppage of anthracite coal pro-
duction September 1. Prolonged meet
ings during the past two days are to
be brought to a head at meetings be-
tween the federal agency and the
leaders on both sides.
Despairing in the attempt to iron
out the technical disputes concerning
the "check- Off system for collecting
union dues and recognition OF the
union the commission members late
Yesterday sounded out both parties as
to their attitude toward an agreement
to suspend hostilities on September l,
keep the mines running and continue
wage contract negotiations with ar
bitration to clinch all disputed points.
Mine operators were said to be ready
10 go some distance with the plan;
but John l.. Lewis, president of the
union and his associate officers were
to be in solid opposition.
Wind Up Conferences.
With prospects for agreement les
,ening momentarily the commission
vas said to have no other recourse
han to wind up the conferences and
'eport their findings to President
Coolidge.
All observers conceded this would
cave imminent the prospect of a COM
,lete shutdown of anthracite mining
september 1.
In an early statement r. Lewis as
erted the operators had destroyed the
miners hope for a resumption Of ne
rotations that would be likely to re-
ult in a contract that would keep
he mines in operation. He charged
hat miners proposition had been
1lSrepreSenteQ 10 confuse the ISSUE.
Waive Check of.
There was nothing in the miners
roposal except the check-off and the
perators know that fact definitely"
e said. 1.-The miners did not offei
} abandon demand number one. They
My offered to waive the check-off !
eature of that demand. That propo-
tion was plain. clearly stated and it
build not be misunderstood-not evef
Y anthracite operators. Yet they
ndertook to read into the miners
roposition matters that were not
lere.
Neither did the miners PROPOSE
on number two contain a single
ord about whether the mines should
main in operation after September
The miners filed an entirely sep
ate and distinct proposition on that
bjeet which the operators have ut.
rly ignored. We earnestly hope
at suspension may be averted. We