Evening star., 1923-08-17


of a letter for presentation to
the Coal Commission formally an
nouncing this decision. The
miners and operators represent
tatives, it was understood, would
unite i'm a declaration i'm the let
ter that the renewed wage nego-
tiations would give good prospect
of uninterrupted operation of the
anthracite mines after September
/, when the present wage agree
ment expires.
By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, August 17.-At the be-
hest of the United States Coal Com
mission committees representing
miners and anthracite operators to-
day went into d joint session in a
! final effort to prevent a strike in the
hard coal fields September /.
The joint conference met after the
commission had called before it John
L. Lewis president of the United Mine
Workers of America, and S. d. Warriner,
cha arman of the general policy commit
tee of the anthracite operators, and gave
them a letter demanding a complete an
swer from both parties as to what each
operations. The joint conference is
scheduled to report to the committee
by pm.
The commission asserted that ths
public was becoming alarme at the
prospect of another coal shortage and
declared it was imperative that un-
certainty be quickly removed
Peace Efforts Halted.
THE committees appointed respec-
lively by the anthracite operators and
the anthracite mine workers to ne
gotiate new contracts to replace the
existing one which expires on August
81, have been in complete deadlock
since July o." the letter said and
from that date up to August Ii, not
even one meeting was held in an ef-
fort to negotiate new agreement.
More than two days have now been
spent in a fruitless effort to find a
basis upon which to bring about a
resumption of negotiations and in the
exchange of notes between the parties
thereto, through the medium of COM
mission, II has been found impossible
ITO have the language of these notes
construed to mean the same thing by
both of the parties.
There now remain only fourteen
days before the present contract eX-
pires. The public mind, with a keen
realization of the suffering of last
winter, because of an inadequate sup
ply of anthracite. is beginning to be
seriously alarmed over the question
of whether there is to be another
suspension of anthracite mining on
September l of this year. 1t is i'm
perative that this uncertainty be
cleared off at once.
We therefore urge that the repre-
sentatives of the two sides imme
diately enter into a conference to
consider and report to US:
Il. Whether you can reach an
dispute and negotiate the new agree
, ment by September !.
\ -. Whether, in the event of your
inability by September l to reach an
agreement upon the matter in con-
trQversy, you can agree upon a plan
that will assure a continuance of
mining after September l, and until
you have reached an agreement.
"3. Whether in the event that you
find yourselves unable to reach a
complete agreement upon the matters
in controversy, you can agree upon
some plan for an orderly and peace
controversy upon which an agree
klent cannot be reached by contract
negotiations, and thus prevent a sus-
pension of mining as a result of the
present controversy.
Demand Reply at Once.
THE commission asks that you go
into joint session Immediately and
reply in writing to the inquiry by 8
O'Clock tonight"
Both Mr.. Warmer and Mr.. Lewis
agreed to the joint meeting which
tthe commission asks and sent for
their associates to participate. The
operators committee before going
into the joint conference gave out
the copies Of two letters addressed to
the commission and explaining their
position over the "check-on' contro-
versy.
Operators were now willing to arbi-
trate all issues, not even excepting
the closed shop with the "check-of y
one of the letters said. Further, the
operators have repeatedly sought a
joint plan that no suspension take
place September l. upon the under
standing that If no wage contract is
executed by that date the contract
when executed shall be retroactive to
that date"
The miners union was declared to
be unwilling to join in such an agree
ment to avert the danger of stoppage
of production.
The second letter restated the oper-
ators' position. and declared that the
operators now were willing to elm
mate the twelve-hour day from in
duetry, provide for speedier adjust
ment Of local grievances before the
anthracite board of conciliation and
put In the new contract "a provision
for the discontinuance of the present
practice of extending credit to en-
ploye6 and deducting the indebted
ness so incurred from their wages.
The operators now offer to extend
the present contract until March 81.
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