Evening star., 1925-11-18
HARD-COAL PEACE
limited IN MOVES
TOWARD PAY PACT
Evidences of Early Reopening
of Mines Found-LeWis'
Speech ConciIiatory.
MINERS HEAD VOICES
READINESS FOR PARLEY
Gays Mutual Concessions" Will
/ End Struggle-Would Agree to
Five-Year Contract.
b. The Associated Pres.

By the Associated Press.
PH1LA DELPHIA. November 1s.-
The conciliatory attitude Of John L
Lewis. president Of the United Mine
Workers, as indicated in his settlement
last night, coupled with reports from
the hard coal regions today that some
Of the producers were making prep
.'rations TO reopen the mines, strength.
cned the belief that the wage ne
niiations between the anthracite
,perators and miners might be re.
>umed at IN early date.
In his statement Mr. Lewis said
the miners were ready to negotiate
new wage contract ''in a spirit Of
compromise and give and take" and
that they stood ready to meet the
operators lin amicable discussions to
work out contract for from one To
five years continuous operation Of
the mines"
Cars Ordered Rushed
From the Pottsville region came
reports that at least one large pro-
ducing company had issued rush
orders for the deliN cry at its mines
If nearly 100 mine cars and also
had ordered a checkup of all the
pumps in its workings These re-
ports also stated that leading opera
tors recently had held three secret
conferences. at which il was rumored
4 modification of their attitude OF
no concessions" was considered
All these reports. while lacking off
cial confirmation. came to the Asso-
ciated Press from persons close to the
operators. None of the members Of
the operators negotiating committee
could he reached early today for
check-up.
When the reports were called TO the
attention of Mr.. Lewis ne expressed
interest, but said he knew nothing Of
them. Other officials mt Mr. Lewis
operators had decided 10 meet the
miners half way" there was no
doubt of an early resumption of the
wage parleys.
Mr.. Lewis. in his statement last
night. made it plain that the miners
! would not accept arbitration He de
clared that they were ready 10 make
II new contract by mutual conces-
sions"
Lewis Speech, in Part.
Both sides to the controversy al
ways have proceeded by collective
bargaining TO work out y contract
and the miners insist that this is their
only safety in dealing with their col
lective employers" Mr.. Lewis said.
The operators now propose TO
scrap this principle, and that the
miners agree blindly to work at
rate of wages To be fixed by other per-
sons TO he called by the company
phrase Of 'arbitrat tion board.
The miners can never give up the
principle that their wages must be
fixed when they go to work, by con-
tract with their employers. brought
;bout by negotiation in spirit Of
compromise and give-and- They
stand for that principle now. They
blieve that the abandonment of that
principle and the adoption of the pro
nosal of the operators will reduce
them TO a position of semi-slavery.
whenever the representatives of
the operators are willing to meet the
representatives of the miners in ami
cable negotiations to work out a con-
tract for from one to five years con
tinuous operation of the mines, the
miners stand now and have been pre-
pared 10 meet them"