Evening star., 1925-12-27
OPERATORS OFFER
MINERS 8 MONTHS
WORK At OLD PAY
Proposal for Return Made in
Ads Today Broadcast
Over Region.
UNION HEADS ASSAIL
PLAN AS PROPAGANDA
Declare Men Will Not Be Stam-
peded-To Make Reply Tues
day-Priests Scored.
Sy the Associated Press.

PHILADELPHIA. December 70
Anthracite operators. through page
advertisements in the Sunday morn
Inc newspapers, are directly asking
their striking employees to return TO
r,ork at once at the rate of wages paid
them when they quit four months ago
The operators guarantee the wages
next eight months, and propose tha'
new long-term contract can pe
worked out in the meantime
The union leaders made no tormal
statement in response TO TINS aclioh,
but Thomas Kennedy, international
secretary and treasurer of the Ohlteo
Mine Workers, at his home in HAZE
ION. Pa, when he learned OF II SAID
the men would not be stampeded pack
to work; that they would return only
when a new contract is agreed upon.
He characterized broadcasting OF
the operators offer at this time as
lack of good faith and an attempt TO
prejudice" the wage conference
scheduled to meet in New York next
Tuesday.
Text of Proposal.
The text of the operators offer, ad-
dressed to "the mine workers and
their leaders" and signed by w: W.
Inglis. chairman of the operators ne
gotiating committee, follows:
Page advertisements will appear
throughout the anthracite region, be-
ginning Sunday, urging immediate
resumption of work, pending nego-
tiations. The same message IN CIR
cular form has been distributed ny
mail to miners direct, business men
~F he
orally.
The text of the offer follows:
ITO Anthracite Mine Workers and
Their Leaders:
1.-The door is open.
You can go to work now at the
wages fixed in the contract that ex-
pired August 81, 1925.
I'VE will pay these wages until
next September-eight months.
Acceptance of this proposal would
in itself constitute a contract.
While wages are coming In ana
coal going out we can arrange the
terms of a new contract.
Signed by Inglis.
The new contraction a long
term-must provide the way to BRING
out all the facts, prevent suspension
and adjust wages.
But thdt is SOHlolIlllS we NdI
work out with the union.
THE main thing is that you can
60 to work at once and be sure OF
the old wages for at least eight
months.
You can't lose.
Think it over. Talk it over among
yourselves and with your leaders. ASK
your friends if, it is not good propo.
sition. (Signed)
ANTHRACITE OPERATORS
CONFERENCE.
WILLIAM w. INGLIS,
Chairman Negotiating Committee.
Mr. Kennedy pointed out that the'
offer of the operators is similar to
that contained in the peace proposal
submitted to the miners and operators
by the LuZerne County delegation OF
the PENNSYLVANIA House of Represent
atives December Is. This peace offer
was accepted by the operators and re-
jected by the miners.
Despite the joyous shouts that MN
gled with the Christmas carols in tne
coal fields when news came that the
wage conference would be resumed
next Tuesday. indications are that the
negotiators will have a rough road to
travel.
Miners Agreement Cited.
The miners il accepting the peace
proposal of Gov. Pinchot virtually
agreed to go to work without an in
crease if it were found that an ad-
vance in wages would send up the
price of coal. This proposal was not
accepted by the operators on the
ground that it only arbitrated wages
upward. They proposed arbitration
without conditions, and this is the big
issue that will be fought out in New
York. The check off, which provides
for deducting union dues from miners
wages, is a second issue that will be
strongly urged and as strongly re-
sisted
The call for the wage conference
next week was issued Christmas eve
and came as gift to the PROSTATE
coal fields. The meeting will be held
with the understanding that any peace
proposal may be discussed. Mr.. Ken
nedy, who was the senior district
president of the miners union in the
anthracite fields before he was elected
International secretary-treasu asurer, in
long statement tonight took issue with
the -English-speaking priests in
the upper coal fields. who in a letter
urged miners to return to work and
admit disputed points to arbitration.
Hears Operators Voice.
He stated the sentiment expressed
Isl the letters of the pastors do not
affect the sentiment of the priests IN
The anthracite region. but. to the con-
trary, they do reflect the thoughts and
policies of the operators.
The statement also opposes the plan
of arbitration proposed by the clergy
men, and states that the anthracite
mine workers and their officers are
fighting for principle, for just cause,
and will continue their endeavors .'lln-
til just and satisfactory agreement
is arrived at
II have read very carefully" said
the statement, the letter forwarded
10 Mr.. w. w. InGlis and Mr. John
l.. Lewis, which was signed by a
number of clerSymen who stated that
they represented in a pastoral ca
Dacity sc per cent of the miners of
anthracite COAL ! do not understa nd
the reason or the logic of their initial
declaration. 1t Is not conceivable that
these reverend gentlemen who head
Is parishes can represent hundreds of
other parishes in the anthracite
region.
II happen to know positively that
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