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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1919)
TIIE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, FOIETLAXD. DECTIBETl 21, 1919 GOAL COMMISSION By Store "Open" Evenings Till Christmas Store Open Evenings Till Christmas w . . !'' . : Working Conditions and ; Wages to Be. Probed. lie :"S't re Where t' v ' STEP LINKED WITH STRIKE 8 NAMED WLSON 4 ! i : ;.-w. . If Readjustment of Prices Is Found Accessary, President Promises to Confer Powers. (Continued From First Fajre.)' could come of a settlement that did not guard at every point the public interest. It was for this reason, he aid, that the requirement of unani mous decisions was imposed. The president informed the com missioners that on their acceptance he would call a meeting of the com mission in Washington to lay out plans for its work. The text of the president's letter to Mr. Kcbineon, identical with those sent to Mr. White and Mr. Feale, fol lows; My Dar Mr. Ttobtnsom On October 6, 1917, with the official approval and sane tion of the United (state fuel adminis tration, an agreement (since known as the "Washington wage agreement") was entered Into between the employers and the union miners and mine-worker of the so-called "central competitive bituminous coal fields," composed of western Penn sylvania, Ohio. Indiana. Illinois, which pro vided for an increase in the production of bituminous coal and an increase in wages to the miners and mineworkers from, the then existing scale of compensation. Clause in Agreement Cited. The agreement contained the following Clause: "Subject to the next biennial convention of the United Mine Workers of America, the mineworkers' representatives agree that the present contract be extended during the continuation of the war and not to ex ceed two years from April, 118." Subsequpently, on January 19, 1918, this agreement was approved by the Conven tion of the International union United Mine ' V'orkers of America. At the fourth biennial convention of the International union United Mine Workers of America, held in Cleveland, O., from September 9 to September 23, 1919, the so- called scale committee submitted a re port recommending, among other things. that the convention demand a 60 per cent - Increase, applicable to all classifications . of day labor and to all tonnage, yardage and deadwork rates throughout the cen- - tral competitive field; that all new wag . agreements replacing existing agreements should be based on a six-hour work day from bank to bank, five days per week; the abolition of all automatic penalty clauses; that all contracts In the bitumin ous field should be declared to expire on November 1, 1919, and that "in the rent a satisfactory wage agreement Is not se cured for the central competitive field . before November 1, 1919, to replace the agreement now In effect. International of ficers be authorised to and hereby In structed to call a general strike of all . bituminous miners and mine worktnt throughout the United States, the came to become effective November 1 1919." Demands Are Submitted. " Subsequently, conferences were held be tween representatives of the operators and of the miners, at which the miners de- - mands were submitted and declined on the 1". part of the operators. The officers of the International union United Mine Workers of America, then Issued so-called strike l't orders to all their local unions and mem- - bers and requiring them to cease work , In the mining of bituminous coal at mid- night on Friday. October 81. 1 On October 15, 1919. the secretary of labor called a .conference between the em ployers and miners of the bituminous v mines In the central competitive field, ' which conference also resulted in failure to reach an agreement. In a letter to Secretary Wilson, which was submitted to the conference, I said: - "If for any reason the miners and em ployers fail to come to a mutual under standing, the Interests of the public are of such vital Importance in connection with the production of coal that it is incum bent upon them to refer the matters In dispute to a board of arbitration for de terlnation and to continue the operation of the mines pending the decision of the board." Subsequently, en October 25, 1919, I Is sued a statement In. which I said that a strike In the circumstances therein de scribed "is not only unjustifiable. It is unlawful." and added: I express no opinion on the merits of the controversy. 1 have already suggested a plan by which a settlement may be reached and I held myself in readiness, at the request of either or both parties, to appoint at once a tribunal to investi gate all the facts with a view to aiding in the earliest possible orderly settlement of the questions at tesue between the coal operators and the toad miners to- the end that just rights, not only of those Inter ests, but also of the general public may be fully protected. - Action Is Described. Respite my earnest appeals that the men remain at work, the officers of the United Mine Workers of America rejected all the proposals for a peaceful and orderly set tlement ana aeciarea mat tne striae would go on. Accordingly, at my direction, the attorney-general filed a bill in equity in the United States district court at Indian apolls praying for an Injunction to restrain the officers of the United Mine Workers of America from doing any act in fur therance of the strike. A restraining or der was issued by the court, followed by a writ of temporary injunction November 8, 1919, Jn which, the defendants were commanded to cancel and revoke the strike orders theretofore issued. These strike orders were accordingly revoked in a form approved by the court, but the men did not return to work in sufficiently large numbers to bring about a production of eoal anywhere approaching normal. - Tribunal Promise Recalled. - On December 6. 1919, X issued a state ment in which. I re-stated the severn merit's position, appealed to the miners to return to wora and renewed my su trees tion that upon he general resumption of operations -a suitable tribunal would be created for the purpose of invest lrat inl and adjusting the matters in controversy between- tne operators and the miners. This statement was submitted to a meet ing of the officers of the Internationa union of United Mine Workers of America, having authority to take action, whluh meeting adopted as its act a memorandum prepare'! by the attorney-general and a proved by me, embodying the suggestions contained In my statement of December 6. X am informed also that the operators have generally agreed to the plan therein outlined. I enclose for your information a copy of my statement of December 6, 1919, and the memorandum just "re farred to. There has now been a general mump tion of operations In all parts of the bi luminous fields sufficient to- warrant the appointment of a commission such as is re furred to In the memorandum of the . at torney-general, and I have accordingly an pointed you, Rembrandt Peale, a mine owner and operator in active business. and John P. White, a practical miner, as a commission with the powers and duties as set forth in' the memorsndum agreed to and adopted by the miners and operators, who conducted all the prior negotiations. Readjustment Is Considered. ' If a readjustment of the prices of coal hall be found necessary. I fchall be pleased to transfer to the commission, subject to Its unanimous action, the powers vested heretofore : in ? the fuel administrator for that purpose.- I am sure it Is not necessary for me to call your attention to the tre mendous Importance of the work of this commlHsion or the great opportunity which it presents for lasting service to the coal industry and the country. ' If the facts covering all the phases of the eoal Industry necessary to a proper adjustment of the matters submitted to you shall be Investigated and reported to the public 1 am sure that your report, in addition to being accepted as the basis for a new wage agreement for the bitu minous coal miners, will promote the pub lic welfare and make for a settled condi tion in the industry. No settlement can be had in this matter permanent and last ing in its benefits, as affecting either the . miners, the coal operators or the general public, unless the findings of this body ' aie coxnprehenaivt in their character ana "Better Value Are Given Through their profit-sharing policy the customer pays the cash and saves from $5 to $10 on the suit or overcoat and 7 DISCOUNT ON FURNISHINGS AND HATS, CONTRACT GOODS EXCEPTED. Compare Gray's Suits and Overcoats with those sold by other stores for $45 and $50 Compare Gray's Suits and Overcoats with those sold by other stores for $55 and $60 Compare Gray's Suits and Overcoats with those sold by other stores for $65 and $70 GRAY'S VALUES WILL TELL R M gray WASHINGTON PARK embrace and guard at every point the pub lic Interest. . To this end I deem tt important That your conclusion shall -be reached by unani mous action. Upon your acceptance ot this appointment I shall be pleased to call an early meeting; of the commission In Washington so that you may prom at lay out plans for your work. . "'- Palmer Issues. Statement. Attorney-General Palmer also Is sued a statement asserting that fail ure by the operators to agree to the wages was all that could be absorbed by I field have not yet either accepted or the operators I made It rserfectly clear rejected the memorandum made by to them that I was not concerned with the Attnrn.vJJcn.ra'l bi T, . . - -. - . . . . . " ' hj mo suit ed Mine Workers at Indianapolis, ac cording to Thomas T. Brewster, chair man, or tne scale committee of merits of the controversy between the op erators and the miners and that I was simply enforcing the law and proposed to do so to the end. This was the entire ex tent of the conversation. There was not one word In it to suggest that X was pro posing any compromise settlement or re adjustment of the matter. As tor the testimony of Ogle and others that the president's plan is not satis factory to the operators. I can only say government's plan for settling the . that m every statement that the prest- coal strike now would be "an amazing oen maae upon tne matter ne proposed repudiation of their own statements g 'ntSS'' no aaaea ni&i tne ujfci niui n ui flclal representatives have repeatedly agreed to the settlement plan." Mr. Palmer s statement also referred to testimony given yesterday before the senate coal Investigating com mittee by Alfred M. Ogle, chairman of the executive committee of the coal operators, alleging that the at torney-general had suggested to the operators a compromise with the miners involving more than 14 per cent wage increase before the settle ment negotiations between the gov ernment and the miners began. Ogle told the' committee that the opera tors considered this proposed com promise "a cowardly and dastardly surrender of the rights of the public and the government." After quoting this portion of Ogle's testimony, Mr. Palmer's statement said: Statement Is Attacked. There is not a word of truth in that statement. Some difference of opinion had been expressed in the newspapers as to whether tne offer of the operators of a 20 per cent norease In wages had been conditioned upon an increase In the price et coal. Mr. Ogle came to me on r ridav. December 5. to deliver a - written -copy of the offer which had been made by the scale com mittee . la the Joint conference with the miners. ' I told his committee that the government .had. not the slightest lnten tion of making any compromise of any kind or character and proposed to stand squarely upon the position it had already taken as announced several times by the president and myself. The operators had offered a 20 per cent Increase to the men and I asked for Information as to whether that offer was conditioned upon the price of eoal being raised and whether, a matter of fact, the Industry could stand an Increase of wages beyond 14 per cent without raising the price of coal. Discussion Is Reviewed. - They replied that their offer had been made contingent upon a readjustment of the government price of coal and that in their opinion a 14 per cent inorfwse in each statement was published the opej tors' committee promptly said they siniel to tne president s plan. favorable Stand Jtesxsrted. , On Friday, December a. the committee toid me that they were at all times heartily In favor ef arbitration of mat ters In dispute by a. commission to be appointed by the president. On Sunday, December 7, T read the president's state ment to. Mr. Butler, their counsel (not be ing able to get Mr. Ogle), and Mr. Butler stated that it was perrectiy satisfactory. lirfeA. V. . . I -J . 1 ... m -".-. iiiw iiicBiumu ieL.er - anu me memorandum briefly embodying hia sug gestion was published at Indianapolis on tne oilewing Tuesday. Thomas T. Brew ster, chairman of the scale committee of operators, of -the central competitive field. announced at SL ixuls that 'the proposal had .met -with the unqualified approval of the operators and that the miners would be ready to reopen as soon as the men accepted the plan and returned to work. The -men have accepted the plan; they have returned to we-rk; production is now taking- place- on a larger scale than In any month of December for many- years past. Alter all tnis. it would be an amas lng - repudiation of their own statements if the operators do not acquiesce In the plan which' their official representatives have repeatedly agreed to. OPERATORS ARE RELUCTANT Palmer Memorandum 2Vot Seen Nor Approved, Says Brewster. ST. LOUIS, Dee. 30, The mine operntors of the central competitive lllllitl The absorbing stories of the Far East revealed in century-old designs of real are especially appropriate at Christmas time. It con tributes much to an Oriental rug as an appropriate gift, providing it is of genuine high quality the only kind in our Christmas exhibits. Selections made now. will, be held, if desired, for Xmas delivery. ,10th and Alder :, -Largest Oriental Rug Dealers ia. the Northwest, coal operators of the central co: petltlve field When Mr. Brewster read the state ment of Attorney-General Palmer to night be said "The operators of the central com petitive field were in full accord with the plan outlined by Fuel Adminis trator Garfield and which appeared ix. the president's statement of De cember 6. When we stated that tie president's proposal was agreeable to us, we were referring to hia etate ment of December 6. 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A ARONSON'S :M& . f -e-ftv Washington Street at Broadway ' Ji0 control board and of the international labor board. Above the frame of a new gas light fixture Is a turbine that is whirled by the heated air, stopping- and shut tlnr off the flow of gas ehould the flame be blown out. ROBINSOX IX WASHINGTON Member From Pasadena Connected With Industrial Conference. PASADENA. Cal.. Dec 20. Henry M. Robinson, the Pasadena attorney named by President Wilson today as one of the three members of the com mission to investigate wages and working conditions in the coal Indus try, has been In Washington for some time. He served on the- Industrial confer ence called by the president last month to consider ways and means of adjusting differences between capital and labor. Before then he was on the United States shipping board, from which he resigned September II. 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