The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-08-31
w Walkout at
Coal Mines
Seems Sure
Both Miners and Operators
Expected to Reject Settle
ment Proposal of Gov
ernor Pinchot.
To Hold Secret Session
BY Universal Service.

BY Universal Service.
Harrisburg, Pa, Aug. 30.-A uni
versal walkout of the $4,000 miners
in the anthracite coal fields of Penn
sylvania at midnight tomorrow
seems sure tonight, through rumors
that both miners and operators will
reject in part the strike settlement
proposal put before them by Gov.
Clifford Pinchot.
BAth sides are to give their
al6ker to Governor Pinchot in a
closed conference called for tomor-
row noon, President John l.. Lewis
of the United Mine Workers Of
America, admitted tonight that the
suspension of mining could hardly
be averted Governor Pinchot inti-
mated today that a cessation Of work
for a few days was possible.
While the operators were consid-
ering the Pinchot proposal in Phila-
delphia. the miners representatives,
with the scale committees Of the
three districts, discussed the strike
settlement ultimatum. During the
1ilOluiH tiC oPNiotCA6 A'AAiSis ~
signed an agreement to keep the
maintenance men on duty at all the
mines.
Miners Puzzles.
Two phases of the proposals for
amicable settlement of the strike
presented by Governor Pinchot are
puzzling the miners.
They want an Interpretation and
an enlargement on the governors
views as expressed in his third and
fourth points: Full recognition OF
the union" and collective bargain
ing.'
The subcommittee of the miners
will meet with the scale committee
Mt 10 tomorrow morning At this
meeting the miners leaders will have
ready to present definite answer
to Governor Pinchot's proposal.
when the proposition goes to the
governor, it will have the endorse
mePt of the full committee" Presi-
dent Lewis declared tonight.
he multiplicity of rates in the an
thracite mining industry was scored
by President Lewis. He said they
were established by the commission
appointed in 1908, following the 1908
strike, and that all increases and ad-
justments made since that time
have been based on the rates in ef-
feet In 1902.
Commission Plan Derided.
Thousands of jobs about the mines
have no rates fixed. Lewis asserted,
and men working 10 feet apart re-
ceive different pay. He made these
assertions when asked to explain the
agreement and pay rates that would
now pertain to the maintenance men.
A suggestion that either President
Coolidge or Governor Pinchot might
appoint a commission to adjust rates
brought laugh from the miners
head.
"A commission 30 appointed would
not know anything about the mines
or rates and would be unable to de-
eide equitably,' Lewis said, unless
they go down in the mines. | haven't
seen commission that would stay
in the mines more than nine minutes,
~
laymen to adjust mine rates"
While the recommendation Of Gov
ernor Pinchot strongly favor the
miners, there are certain flaws which
the miners feel need adjustment be-
fore an agreement is signed. The
operators representatives are also ex-
pected to present objections to the
proposal.
Session to BE Secret.
Anticipating the difference of opin-
ion of a number of points, Governor
Pinchot has announced that the con-
ference at noon tomorrow to receive
the answers of both sides will be an
executive one, behind closed doors.
Both sides have been bound by the
executive not to reveal their attitude
before that meeting. but 1t is possible
that SOM statements may be forth
coming, Just prior to the session.
All sorts Of rumors are afloat to-
night. One is that in the event OF
disagreement on the Pinchot PROPOSE
tion. an effort will be made by the
governor to keep the conferees in ses-
SION until thcy nav f''""e ''0 >
effort to get together on terms.
Another possibility is that, being
able to reach an agreement on the
wage increases. other matters are to
be made subject to parley during
31-day truce, during which mining
operations are to continue.
Governor Pinchot would not discuss
plans he had In mind in the event
no agreement was possible. He eagJr-
ly sought information concerning the
attitude of both sides. He admitted
that a uniform accounting system
would be valuable to establish the
actual cost OF mining ton OF coal.
He said he had seen no one connected
with either side OF the controversy
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