Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-01
COAL CONFERENCE
PLANS ABANDONED
Majority of Operators BaIk
at Joining Efforts to
Remedy Conditions.

operators to cooperate in concerted
effort to remedy admittedly bad condi-
tionS prevailing for years in the coal
field because of overdevelopment and
the trend of fuel users to gas, Oil and
water power.
Unemployment was reported to be
heavy in these districts and in many
sections suffering has been reported
among miners families. In June John
l.. Lewis, president of the United Mine
Workers, requested President Hoover to
call conference en- conditions within
the industry Mr.. Hoover informed Mr..
Lewis he would do all he could and in
structed Secretaries Lamont and Doak
to determine the attitude of the oper-
ators and labor.
Letter to Lewis Made Public.
Secretary Doak late yesterday re-
ported TO President Hoover the result of
a poll begun July % to ascertain
whether or not such conference could
be held. At the same time he made
public letter to Mr.. Lewis in which
he said:
Some weeks ago you requested that
a general conference of bituminouS
operators and miners be called to con-
slider your plan for sterilization of the
industry. In a desire TO explore any
suggestion that would be of assistance
to the coal industry Units difficult situa-
ton, the Secretary of Commerce and I.
on July %, Jointly addressed the en-
closed letter to the list of operators fur
niShed by you as men whom you felt
should join in such conference. These
invitations were sent out to 160 opera
tors. Replies have been received from
3S favoring the calling of such con-
ference; 81 have replied questioning the
value Of such conference, but express
ing willingness to attend. The remain
ing 101 have either indicated that they
would not attend, or have failed to re-
ply at all
inspection of the rated daily ton
mage of the mines represented shows
that the combined number of those
favoring the conference and those will
ing to attend, while questioning its
value, would represent about 100000
tons. Those who declined or failed to
reply would represent rated tonnage
around 100000 tons. Thus, with
operators representing the great bulk
of the total labor employed unwilling to
cooperate, and since the responses in
dictate that, at this time, it is not pos
slble to assemble conference repre-
sentative Of the industry generally 1t
does not appear that the calling of the
conference to consider this plan would
have any result. The responses and
records are open for inspection if you
so desire"
In discussing his letter to Mr.. Lewis,
Secretary Doak informed newspaper
men he supposed the letter closes the
matter"
Lamont Meets With Operators.
Shortly after President Hoover re-
ce-ved the Geographic request from the
mine workers chief, Secretary Lamont
called an informal meeting in the Com
merce Department Building with a
group of operators, in which represen-
tation from the principal producing dis
tricts was sought, for discussion of
this proposal.
Some of the operators attending ex-
pressed the view that the coal industry
was no worse off, relatively, than other
industries at the present time. and a
majority of them cOntended nothing
could be gained by a Nationwide joint
conference of operators and miners. A
minority of operators considered prog
resS could be made by such confer
Cnce.
A few days later a similar meeting
was held in the Labor Department
Building with Mr.. Lewis and other
members of the Executive Committee Of
the United Mine Workers. A point was
ing with the operators the previous
week, the industry was not effectively
represented. 1t was asserted that by
representative conference of both OPP
orators and miners much could be done
to stabilize wages and improve condi-
lions generally within the industry. 1t
was further asserted by the mine union
representation that operators would
willingly attend the conference.
Joint Letter Is Mailed.
This resulted in Secretaries Lamont
and Doak sending joint letter to 100
operators. in which a general outline
of the situation was given. The letter,
in conclusion, said:
LAS it is our desire to assist in any
workable and practical plan which
might offer to contribute substantially
to a solution CT the difficulties in the
coal industry, this letter is being sent
to representative number of operators
located in the more important producing
districts in the country for the purpose
of presenting this specific inquiry: At
a convenient time in the near future
will you be willing to attend a repre-
sentative joint conference OF operators
and miners for the purpose stated? In
your judgment would such a conference
bring about the results outlined by Mr..
Lewis? A reply by telegram will be
appreciated"
When the operators gathered here for
their informal meeting at the Com
merce Department a small army of
miners and their families converged
upon Washington from Pittsburgh and
other Pennsylvania fields. Small re-
Inducements came here from West Vir-
ginia. They made the trip in trucks
and used the Ellipse, in the rear of the
White House, as their concentration
point.
White House Police Augmented.
This caused uneasiness at the White
House and District and park police
were sent to augment the White House
police to prevent any invasion move.
The miners, through their leaders, ap-
pealed for two days to be heard at the
Commerce Department meeting. Upon
being refused on the eve of the breaking
up Of the conference, they marched on
Pennsylvania avenue toward the White
House with banners flying.
In front of the Executive Mansion
they were met by number of police
nerS, but allowed the miners and their
families to parade up and down in
front of the White House for more
than an hour while their leader pre-
scented a petition to President Hoover
requesting an investigation on con-
ditions in the coal fields.
A short time later they quietly dis
persed, leaving Washington Immediate
ly for their homes.
THREATENS MARTIAL LAW.
FRANKFORT Nv Senternher I (G1