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. As for the
memorandum of Attorney-General
Palmer, referred to in President Wil
son's statement to Mr. Robinson, we
have never seen it. therefore it can
not be claimed that we have agreed
to it.
Aronson's a Treasure House of Jewels
Here feast your eyes upon wondrously beautiful, glowing diamonds diamonds in
an array most tempting diamonds at every price, from the dainty little gem at $10
up to the great, lustrous solitaire at $2500! Make this a Diamond Christmas! Let
your gift rival the dazzling beauty of the dewdrop that receives the first glad beam
of the morning sun! We can fill your every diamond want !
Diamond Rings Diamond Cluster Rings Diamond Bar Pins
Diamond and Platinum Bracelet Watches
From a Store Filled With Lovely Gifts We Offer These as Interesting Suggestions:
For Father:
a watch
a ring
a chain
a gold knife
an emblem charm
a cigar holder
a humidor
-an umbrella
a cane
a leather wallet
a traveling Bet
a paper stand
a leather collar box
an eversharp pencil
a fountain pen
a shaving stand and
mirror
For Brother:
a pair of cuff links
a scarf pin
a tie clasp
a cigarette holder
a watch
a chain'
a card case
a bill-fold
a cigarette case
a wallet
a fitted traveling case
a pair of military brushes
a seal ring
a leather belt
a safety razor
an emblem pin
For Mother:
a wrist watch
a diamond ring
a toilet set
an umbrella
a velvet bag
a traveling clock
a silver tea set
"traveling bag
a string of pearls
a mesh purse
a bedroom clock
a silver platter
a cameo brooch
lavalliere
-a pair of diamond earrings
For Sister:
a wrist watch
a leather album
a string of pearls ..
a string of fancy beads
a toilet set .
a vanity box
an overnight case
an umbrella
a beaded bag
an Ivory clock
a fountain pen
a silver vase .
a sterling frame
a pair of earrings
jewel case .
- ten Evenings Until Christinas .
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.
At the peace conference in Paris he
was a member of the economic group
or advisers to the president and also)
a member of the supreme economic
Piano
Wanted
Highest cash price paid
for used
Upright Pianos
Player Pianos
Grand Pianos
Pianos exchanged for
Victrolas and Records
Get our proposition.
Seiberling-Lucas
Music Co.
125-27 Fourth St. Main 8586
Buy Your Holiday
Needs Direct From
the Manufacturer.
We Save You Money
)f'- i '1111111 ''in , sjs,caJsw
Gifts in
That would be appreciated by any man or woman.
We Are Exclusive Manu
facturers of Traveling
Bags and Suitcases
Our workshops announce the completion of
a number of Leather Traveling Bags espe
cially suited for .Holiday Gifts.
,"::' . . J r -
. . V 1 . ... . ;
.- :i
These bags are made from cowhide In
all "the desirable colors
have hand sewed-on corners
frames. Specially pric
from cowhide in
and trrams and II U H 7S
Other Bags, Trunks and Suitcases ranging in all prices.
SEE OUR WINDOW DISPLAY
Oregon Bag &
Suitcase Mfg. Co.
151-3 Fourth St., Between Morrison and Alder Streets.
J
s
CECIL TEAGUE
at the Wurlitzer, renders
an appropriate accompani
ment that makes the heart
brat quickly and takes you
right into the plot itself.
irKDAV fOSCEHT
ll30 P. M.
Glailators Fuelk
"Mother" SotiRs:
Alofher Machree,
Mother,
bonpa ry Mother Taua;ht
Me (Dvorak).
M.ammy o' Mine.
Arranared by Tea slue
Selection from Madame
Butterfly Puccini
Caprice Viennois
' Krolsler
My Baby's Arms. . .Tierney
1
5 M
SnLLIONS HAVE
READ THE BOOK
A super-drama vrith thrills,
suspense and romance with
an unexpected ending. A good
man will fight his way through
fire and water for a good
woman.
"I'm dying," Bearcat says.
"I hope ter God yer air, but
afore "ye dies ye're agoin ter
be married," replies Henderson.
Pathe News and
Comedy
9 a!
"MiiMi mmjmmmmtvmkimimm ma mitMmM- fn - - - - - - --
i
r
i -
i
4
f c
i - i