Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-25
Agreement Within Week and
Failure Forecast on Eve
of Conference.
JOINT COMMITTEE ASKS
FOR NEW PEACE EFFORT
Either Side Privileged to Offer
Settlement Program Under
Terms Stated.
By the Associated Press.

HAZLETON, Pa, December 20 Up.
Official announcement that wage
negotiations looking toward peace in
the anthracite industry would be re-
summed next Tuesday came as a joyous
Christmas gift today to the $4,000
idle mine workers.
Gloom that had hung over the re-
gion for weeks was dispelled by the
news that Alvan Markle. chairman or
the operators and miners Joint COM
mittee, had issued a call for renewal
Of the parleys in New York City after
ascertaining that such action was
agreeable to representatives OF poth
miners and operators.
There were predictions that a new
wage scale would be signed within a
week after the conference Is resumed.
as well as forecasts that the opposing
groups, between whom so much bit
terness has been manifested recently.
would be unable to reconcile their dir
ferences and that the conference
would end In failure as did those in
Atlantic City last August.
Roth Sides O. X. Call.
The call for a resumption of nego-
tiations was issued by Mr.. Markle
after receiving official notification that
John l.. Lewis. president Of the United
Mine Workers, had expressed his
willingness to confer with the oper-
ators on any and all peace plans and
after having ascertained that such
action was agreeable to representa-
tives of both sides. In formal sta
ment announcing the call, Mr.. Markle
said:
The anthracite subcommittee will
meet in New York on December 90,
1925. at 3 pm. The resumption Of ne
gotiations is agreeable to both miners
and operators. AT this meeting any
basis for settlement may be brought
before the conference by either party"
The call followed concerted effort
on the part of the Catholic clergy of
the anthracite field to bring pressure
to bear on the opposing forces for
a renewal of negotiations. In letters
to Mr.. Lewis and Maj. w. w. Inglis
chairman of the anthracite operators
wage negotiating committee, 16 priests
OF non-English speaking congrega-
tons, claiming to represent IS per
cent of the miners IN the hard coal
belt, declared that a great majority of
the men were tired of the strike and
desired to return to work.
others Sign IetterS-
These communications were followed
last night by letters signed by II
Catholic clergymen of Irish-American
congregations indorsing the declara.
tons made by the priests of non-Eng-
lish parishioners and urging the nego
tiattng parties 70 resume negotiations
reopen the mines Immediately. and re-
fer all demands on which you do not
agree to an impartial board Of adtu-
dication," while the latest letters went
further into the controversy. stating
that the unions demand for the
check off" was not considered by the
mine workers as of sufficient impor-
lance to prolong the strike.
Gov. Pinchot and a committee of
MAYORS and burgesses of the anthra-
cite region were among those who
made unsuccessful efforts to end the
suspension.
It was to Mayor Durham, chairman
of the committee of mayors. that
President Lewis sent his telegram to
clarity the wrong impression of the
mine workers attitude which has been
brought about by improper interpre-
tations," and in which he said the
governors plan did not prevent the
consideration Of any other possible
plans by the parties to the conference.