The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-08-17
HOPEFUL sign FOR
HARDCOAL CONFAB
Indication That the Strike
Dangers Are At End
LOOK LIKE PEACE
Road To Agreement Left Open;
Think Terms Will
Be Met
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch.J


New York, August 1e.-Pros-
Poets for q peaceful settlement
Of the anthracite controversy
Through mutual elimination OF
the "cheek on" were believed
today to have received severe
setback when John L. Lewis,
president OF the United Mine
Workers Of America de1ouneed
The orators truce proposal az
"i..!sieading and confusing
document" which although,
spokesman for the employers,
had been drafted by Waiter
Gordon Merritt, "a union bust
Ing lawyer"
New York, August 1s.-Prospects
were bright today for an ending Of
all danger of September suspen-
sion of anthracite coal production.
Officials Of the miners union and
representatives OF anthracite opera
tors who came last night to accep-
lance of tentative agreements for
resumption of wage negotiations,
both had early engagements with the
United States coal commission, to
discuss and ratify the terms involv-
ed. Considerable discussion re-
NAMED to clear up the atmosphere,
though the first day of the federal
body's direct Intervention in the sit
uation threatening the anthracite
supply had almost completely elm
mated the check of" controversy
which hitherto has blocked attempts
at agreement, = :. ...-2 --ssss. ss,.-.
The road to an agreement was
left open in union proposal to
abandon entirely the "check off, de-
mand provided operators woul'
cease checking of" mine pay rolls
the costs of supplies, house rent
and other items furnished individual
miners.
Lewis Presents Proposition.
John L. Lewis, as president Of the
United Mine workers, presented the
proposition to the commission for
conveyance to the operators group
ly later.
8. d. Warmer as chairman of the
committee of anthracite operators,
addressed letter to the commits
sioner accepting the miners propo-
sal ard suggested that the wage ne
gotiations could now be resumed.
1t was the union offer and the OPP
orators response which the commits
sion had to take up today. Mr.. Lewis
likewise had second proposal pend
ing by which the union agreed to
continue negotiations and let the
mines run in case the check OF was
installed September 1.
There were still points Of doubt
left In the interchange, but mem
bers of the commission held that
the proceedings had left them filled
with hope that the worst Of the dan
ger of an anthracite supply stop
page had been averted.
Conference Progresses Today.
Miners union officials and repre-
sentatives of anthracite coal opera
day with the United States coal
commission equipped with q provi-
sional agreement looking to con-
tinuation of anthracite coal mining
after September l. That there were
still obstacles to be overcome, how
ever, before an assurance Of avert
Ing another interruption In anthra-
cite production, appeared early in
The discussions.
John L. Lewis, president Of the
United Mine Workers, notified the
commission that the union was pre-
pared to accept the operators agree
check OF" system.
Mr.. Lewis also told the commits
sion that In Offering to resume me-
gotiations for a new contract which
would fix wages and terms Of en-
ployment in the anthracite regions,
the union would not agree to let the
mines operate after September II
contract agreement had not been
perfected by that date.
Samuel d. Warmer, chairman OF
the anthracite operators policy COM
mfttee, in notifyir" the commissio-
of the operators readiness to aban-
don the "check off" system took the
position that the miners would agree
to end the threat of suspending an
thracite operation September i.