Wilkes-Barre Sunday Independent

              THE FAVORITE
SUNDAY NEWSPAPER
IN MORE THAN
ISfiOO HOMES
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
LEASED WIRE TELEGRAPH REPORT TO 3 A. M. SUNDAY
THE WEATHER
Washington, July 22.—Easterr, Pa.: F^rt cloudy Sunday and Monday, probably loca! tunderstorma, not much change ia temperature.
THIRTY-TWO PAGES
Entered   at   WUkes-Barre,   Pa., aa   Second   Class   Mail   Matter
WILKES-BARRE, PA., SUNDAY, JULY 23,1922
The   Only   Sunday   Newspaper Published   in   Luzerne   County
PRICE EIGHT CENTS
HARDING GIVES ANTHRACITE MAYORS POWERS TO DEAL FOR HARD COAL WAGE AGREEMENT
\
POLICEMAN VINDICATES CITY FORCE
Accused of Graft He Follows Trail of Suspect From France to Wilkes-Barre
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COUNTRY CLUB CHEF FLEES LOCAL DEBTS
CAPTURES HIS MAN
TWrty-eight Charges Face Internationally Known Ex¬ pert of the Burglar Craft
KEPT STORE HERE
In one of the greatest arrests ever Credited to WUkes-Barre Police de- partmpnt—that of an Internationally known burglar and a fugitive from Justice who, after being chased through the United States and Europe, made his escape l«cfore being flnally ^Ued—Rocco DePippo, alla.i Rocco l/ong, aged 28, of -11ttsh<irg. was taken into custo<ly last nighf while talking with a friend in a ehoe repair¬ ing shop on Northampton street. The arrest w.us mado by City Detective Michael Kittrick asslste«l by City De¬ tective John Williams nnd by Patrick E. Moran. a former Pittsburg detec¬ tive, u ho has trailed the fugitive since last  February.
The precautions tal:en to arre.st Do- Plppo rrsulted in another man, wanted by the Ilttsburg police as an accom¬ plice in a.ssistlng the furltlve to make his e.scape In getting away unnoticed. It was not known that the second man wanted by the PItt.sburg potice waa in thia city until DePlppo at police head- Quarters made a statement that the man known as Joe Nicholas was sit¬ ting alongside of him in the shoe re- IMdrlng shop when the detectives made the arrest. According to the state¬ ment NIcholaa was waiting in an automobile when I>cPippo made hts Mcape in Pittsburg after being brought from Europe, and that Nich- ftlaa brought him to this city four weeks ago and has lived with him ¦Ince. The detectives are making an effort to locate Nicholas.
The arreat of DePlppo wns made largely through the efforts of Mr. Moran, who has followed the man for tho past aeverai months to vindicate himself and the I'lttsburg police de¬ partment aftor being accused of ac¬ cepting graft to allow the man to es¬ cape last May. Although the former detective contends that after he brought the fugitive back from Krance and turnc<l him over to the bonds¬ man who had posted the bail, that he was legally through with the case, a cry went up In Ilttsburg accusing Mornn and tho Pittsburg department of accepting graft and the detective lost his Job. Determined to prove to the peopl"^ of Ilttsburg that reports were untrut, Moran withoul a job and M-ithout pay vowed to follow the fu¬ gitive until he waa apprehended. A Crime I>rama DePlppo Is internationally known as a burglar and Is regarded hy police authorities as one of the shrewdest crooks over encountcre*! nnd at one time was said to l>e the leader of a band of burglars and crook-s in Pitts¬ burgh. Kor a period of three years mystorious burglarie.s were reported in I'ittsburgh and vicinity and detectives woro uuable to tnico the criminals.
Early this year Del'ippo was arrest¬ ed by Pittsburgh authorities and in¬ dict I'd in Allegheny County Court on thirty-eight counts of burglary, em- berzloment. breaking and entering and obtaining money and goods on false protonse. He waa released in $8,000 bail, the money boing furnished by Samuel Richmond of I'ittsburgh, who waa al.so the man's lawyer. It was brought out in court at that time that DePippo and his gang had stolon and fraudulently obtained goods and money estimated at $150,000.
Shortly after being relea.sed on bail UePippo loft Pitt.sburgh and his bonds¬ man. Attorney Richmond, requested Allegheny County and Pittsburgh authorities to make a search for the man. Patrick E. Moran, then a de¬ tective of the I'ittsburgh police de¬ partment, was as.signed to the case. He cha.sed DePippo to Philadelphia and arrivod two hours after he had left that city. Ho then cha.sod him to Ne»' York and arrived ii- that city three hours after the fugitive had loft for another destination.
rrr>ident Signed Warrant On Feb. 28 of this year, Moran again Chased DePipi>o to Now York City and found that the fugitive had sailed to Italy on a steamship that had left three hours before his arrival. Detec¬ tive Moran then took the case up with Secretary of State Charles E. Hughes and President Harvling and the State Department cabled to Cherbourg. France, to have the man arrested whon the boal docked nt that port.
Moran was given a special United States warrant signed by I'resident Harding and Secretary of State Hughes and left for France on March 81. In Cherbourg the man was turned over to Detective Moran and the trip back to this country was staried on April 26. On tho trip to this country the detectivo slept with the ma^ and kept him handcuffed to himself at all times.
They arrived in this country on Mav 4 and the man was locked in the Pittsburgh jail that night. The next day the man was taken from the Jail by Detective Moran and turned over to Mr. Rli^mend. the l-mndsmnn, whom (Rntinued on I'ace 5>
Trusted by many local business and professional men, members of Wyom¬ ing Country Club, aa a real gentleman, Fred Benner, chef at that institution for the pa.st two years, is boing sought by local authorities after having mys¬ teriously disappeared from this section about two weoks ago, leaving bohind him personal debts believed to run up into the thousands. Mr. Benner who is said to have po.ssessed such a fa.scin¬ ating personality that he immediately impressed everyone with whom he came iu contact as being a man of unusual culture and a remarkably clever conversationalist. His wife too, Is said to be a highly cultured woman.
While acting as chef nt the local club Bonner Is understood to have con¬ ducted the business as a personal proposition. He Is said to have done nil his buying and al.so to havo collect¬ ed for all meals served at the club. So favorably impressed with his busl- noas ability were local merchants that ho was allowed to run up exceptionally big bills. Now it Is understood that he owes one concem as high as $4.">0. an¬ other $350 nnd several other establish¬ ments similar amounts.
Among hla victims are Charles IjC- vine, of Uncoln stroot, city. Mr. I<o- vlne loaned Mr. Benner $200 recently
and the latter gave him a check to cover the amount, dating the check ahead. Some timo later the one to whom the check had been given went to a loc.-U bank only to flnd that thf check wasn't worth the paper on which It was written. A search for Benner for an explanation concerning the matter revealed the fact that he h.ad di.sappeared. This was a little more than a week ago. On Saturday of last week. Mr. Levine went before Alderman Thomas Goss and swore out Information calling for Ronner's arrest on a ch.irge of i.ssuing fraudu¬ lent checks. Up until last night no trace had been found of the missing man.
Benner ttnd his family came to this country in 1914. I'rior to his coming here he wns employed as chef in tho Savoy Hotel in London. He wiis so thoroughly German, however, that he was compelled to leave England and bring with him his wifo, a former London girl. During his residence in this country Bonnor is .said to have been employed In some of the leading hotels of    America.
While living In this city he travel¬ ed in select society and upon leaving Is understood to have loft bohind a valuable automobile. His wife and child nre .snid to have left the city a short time before him.
GIRL ADMITS KILLING MAN BUT IS FREE
Under Alabama Law Miss Mildred Brewer Can Be Treated Only As Child
SIXTEEN YEARS OLD
Detectives Work On Theory That Portis McKeithen Caused His Own Death
JUVENILE COURT ACTS
E
BymiLDElEGilTE
Three Issues Brought to the Front in Dealing With the Govemment
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BOTH SIDES SPEAK
Chicago, July 22.—Three main Is¬ sues tonight prevented settlement of the rail shopmen's strike.    They are:
1—The question of seniority rights of strikers.
2—Discontinuance of contract work by railroads.
8—Establishment of a national board of adjustment.
X'nion loaders flayed Chairman Ben W. Hooper of the Railroad I^bor Board for giving the Impression to President Harding that the seniority question was the only issue.
In a long statement Bert M. Jewell president of tho shopmen, detailed the triple griov.ance. The strike can only be settled by meeting the three de¬ mands, Jewell declared.
Socretarj- of Labor Etavis held a long conference with Bert M. Jewell, presi¬ dent of tho shopcrafts, and his six leaders, tonight. Tho conference with tho striko chiefs followed a two hour session between Secretary Davis nnd W. L. McMenlmen, labor member of the Railroad Labor Board.
McMonlmon     declared     later    that Davis  went  Into  every  detail  Of  the controversy.    He Indicated that Davis would  probably inquire Just as thor¬ oughly info the union's side of the dis¬ pute.    It Is under.stood that Davis will I return to Washington after the con- I feronce with Jewell and turn the data gathered hore over to the President. ' .Strons Language Rail and union leaders to.ssed bitter phrases at each other    as    they    re- Iterated  their determination  to "ftehl It out."
"We'll stick It out until hell freezes." Samuel Fclton. spokesman for the railroad executives, told President Harding over the telephone. Harding a.skod Felton to use his influence to have the strikers return with all seniority  rights.
"I'll be damned if I do." Felton re¬ plied.
The shopmen's statement flayed the executives. It said: "I.*t the public watch this group of little Cae¬ sars. Without an Imperial vision they issue their edict that hundreds of thousands of men shall be deprived of work and that millions of the nation shall sufttr vast loss in order that the little Cae.sars may punish those, who have refused to sell fi-ee labor into conditions of Ixindage."
Clerks and freight handlers of the northwostem road, aftor a conference with W. L. McMenlmen of tho l.,abor Board, decided not to strike. A com¬ promise was reached including agree¬ ment by the board ,to re-open the wage decision affecting thom as soon as possible.
The .strike of sliopmon entered its fourih week today. The third week opened with a promise of quick set¬ tlement and closed with the throat of a long flght. The week was marked by disturbances.
Rail executives announced that the strike had caused no serious delay in handling of freight or passengers. They said the cut in schedules was due to the coal shortage.
Union leaders predicted that rolling stock was piling up ia the shops and thnt the number of cars and locomo¬ tives available for service was rapidly growing.
Harding and Hooper Are Agreed Upon a Revised Plan to Be Presented
ADMIT HANDICAPS
KILLED .\T SCR.WTOX
Louis Chrodorne. 45 years old, of Wost l.jickawanna avenue, Scrantoii. was Instantly killed last night when struck by a freight train in the Scran¬ ton yards of the Delaware, Lackawan¬ na i Westem Railroad. He was a maintenance of way employee of the company.
Washington. July 22.—New confer¬ ences dosignofl to end the strike of 400,000 railroad shopmen will be held shortly. It was Indicated tonight ns Ben Hooper, chairman of the Rail¬ road Labor Hoard, left for Chicago after a lengthy conference with Presi¬ dent Harding tonight.
Hooper's departure from the capitol nine hours aftor he arrivod was taken as an indication that Harding and he had agreed on a new course of action.
The principiil barrier to peace Is the question of restoration of seriority rights to tho strikers, the labor board chairman told Harding.
The strikers are ready to return to work nt the new wage scale ordered by the Railroad Labor Board if their .seniority rights are restored. Hooper told Harding, it Is undarstood.
The strikers' willingness to return to the shops is predicated on assur¬ ances from the I^abor Board of re- hearings on the wage reduction order.
Indications that Harding Is desirous of some Congxos.sional action to aid in settling the rail strike were soon in the fact that Senators Cummins, Wat¬ son and Kellogg joined in the confer¬ ence with Hoover and that later the executive discussed the situation with Senator Und^rwoo<i, Democratic lead¬ er, and Senator Pomerone, ranking Democrat on the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Protect New Men
The eastern railroads refuse to give n-ay on the seniority que.stion. Wost- ern and southern railroads are willing to take th'3 men back with rights cn- Joyecj prior to the strike.
The opposition from the (Astern lines, it is e.stimate^i, is due to the fact that they have hired some 200,000 workers to replace the strll^rs with the guarantee that they woulB be piv¬ en senority rights, n^ matter how the .strike is settled xl'l'cy cannot t ike back the strikers and grant them their original seniority rights without breaking the agreement made with the newly hired workers.
Western and southern roads are not bound by the same consideration as they hired comparatively few men to replace the strikers, it was stated.
While the I'resident regards the railroad strike as serious, he is more concerned with the coal striko. it was learned on high authority. He is eag¬ er, however, to make peace in the transportation situation for the prqb- able effect on the coal strike situa¬ tion.
Hanling summonrd Hooper to se¬ cure an authoritative import tin the negotiations hold thus far and leum If there was any po.ssible avenue for bringing the railroad executives and the union leaders together.
While the Whito House was uncom¬ municative nnd Hooper's lips wet* sealed, the impression was that Hard¬ ing and Hooper ocliove they can brinf the warring factions together.
Hooper, after his conference at the White House, dictated a nriof mhta- ment in which he said: "I have gone over the whole situation very thor¬ oughly with the President, undertak¬ ing to give the history of the contro¬ versy in all Its phases ddwn to the present time.
"Naturally I do not feel at liberty to discuss the details of the conference."
Montgomery, -Ma., July 22.—Mildred Willis Brewer. 16 year old grand¬ daughter of the late Colonel Willis Biewer, former Congressman, will be called before the Juvenile court here Wodnesdiiy nftemoon for examination in connactlon with the slaying of her cousin's husband, A. Portis McKeith¬ en.
This announcement was made by authoritios here tonight following a confidential report to Solicitor W. T. Roibels from Coroner J. J. Dtiffy, who has so far declined to ren<ler a deci¬ sion as fo fhe causes leading up to the alleged murder.
The State's case was givon a death blow hore this aftornoon whon it was shown the girl is only 16 yoars old and consequently subject to the Im¬ munities granted childron.
State's nftorneys had previously de¬ clared they believed Miss Brewer to be 19 years.
Being under 18 the girl will never be brought before the circuit court charged with the killing. It was saW.
Since she arrived at the police sta¬ tion late Thursday and told officers McKeithen's body could be found in a clump of bushes six and a half miles out on the Haynesville road and she would answer for his death, Mis.<» Brewer has maintained a strict silence in connection  with the case.
That McKeithen him.seif flred the fatal shot and Mi.ss Brewer is now shielding his namo was a theory de- tei'tlvos were working on.
Several threads have boen picked up In the Investigation which might lead to this conclusion, officials Indi¬ cated.
McKeithen was killed by a bullet flred from a revolver near his head. This was indicated by powder burns found on his right temple.
Notwithstanding that Miss Brewer surrendered to fhe police and display¬ ed the pi.stol with which she s;iid .she killed McKeithen, a .second revolver was found in the clothing of the dead man.
PRESIDENT PREPARES WAY TO PEACE; HART FORECASTS AN EARL Y DECISION
T
E
Union Men Declare Effort Will Be Made to Block Ship¬ ments From Wales
FAMINE VERY NEAR
POPE'S APPOINT.MENTS
Rome, July 22.—Pope Pius XI has appointed three American Catholic ciergymon to positions of distinction in the Vatican, it was announced here today. Mgr. Els, former Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie to be Bishop assist- <ant to the throne and Rev. Thomas Klnsella and Rev. Patrick Mclnerny, both of Leavenworth, Kas., will be made Domestic Prelates.
MUST CUT GR.'^SS
Sayre, Pa., —July 22.—After 20 years of laxity, a neighlxirhood feud resulted In police ordering the resi¬ dents here to cut their grass or pay a flne of $5 and cost.s. One neighbor complained that It was "disgraceful" the way fhe gra.ss was allowed to grow. Police looked up an ordinance which waa approved 20 years ago. An ultimatum was Lssued to cut grass or suffer the penalty Imposed by tiie law.
WILL OF P. D. M'GREEVEY
Patrick D. McOreevey, late of this city, by his will fllued ye.sterday leaves $1,000 to a grandson. William J. Mc- Greevey; $1,000 to a granddaughter. Eleanor McGreevey, and $2,500 to a son. Clement. The remainder of his estate he leaves to a son, Vincent, who is named as executor.
FLAPPERISM INVADES THE HAREMS OF TURKEY
Washington, July 22—Flappers have Invaded the harems of Turkey. Re¬ ports received by the Department of Commerce today show an unprece¬ dented demand for lipsticks, rouge, perfumes, face powders and other cos- (netica
While perfumes were essential to the toilet of the harem beauties before the war, while they were imported from France, the use of the typical flapper camouflages only recently refiched quantities in fhe harem.s.
Bobbed hair, short skirts, woolen hose and flat heeled shoes are also gaining considerable favor with the modem Turkish girl, it was stated.
Washington, July 22.—The nation within a month will be in the throes of the worst summer coal famine in the history of the country, unless the minors strike is settled or a big in¬ crease in production Is made possible, a high official of the government de¬ clared tonight.
A shortage next winter Is belloved Inoscapablo, even if full production is soon resumed.
Unless the movement of coal can be started soon to the northwest and Now England, nil that will prevent suffering thore will be a rigid policy of fuol rationing.
Omcial govornmcnt estimates of the nation's coal reserve as the striko en¬ ters its sovonteonth woelf. pl.ice the amount at about 10.000.000 ton.s, com¬ pared with C.i.OOO.OOO tons when the minors wiilked out on April 1.
The critical condition of the nation's fuel supply was rcvoaled in offlcial flg¬ ures made public tonight by the Unit¬ ed States Geological Survey which keeps a close tab on coal protluctlon.
The railway shopmen's strike has brought a rapid decline In production and the coiil mined during this week may set a new low record. I'roduc- tion is down ns low as the ma.vinnim point of the great mine strike of l'.)19.
Car loadings of coal are now lower thnn at any time during the strike, the report show.s, the daily average being about 10,000 tons.
The Geological sur\-cy says:
"I'ndor the influonco of tho railway shopmen.s' striTto, coal production is rapidly (inclining. Traflic congestion has intorferoil with the placement of empty cars at non union mines and the weekly oufptK of coal is already running 1,700,000 tons below the high point reached late in June. In fact the present week may even set a new low record. Preliminary reports indi¬ cate that production cannot exceed 3,- 600.000 tons, against a minimum of 3,575,000 tons in the third week of the strike and a maximum of 5,363,000 tons In the twelfth week.
Tremendous Drop^
"In comparison with normal years^ the present deficit in production is even more maiked
661,000 Miners In Strike Census
i:
Wa.shington. July 22.—The num¬ ber nf coal miners on strike Is 610,000 the Department of l^bor announced today. The figures show that tho ranks of the strikers are holding flrm.
The total is put .-it 661,000 by union leaders. Bolh agree that there are 185,000 miners at work.
Of this number 17.000 union min¬ ers in Westem Kentucky are work¬ ing under a contract running to March. 1923; 11.000 .safety men have boen withdrawn and 5,000 mon in West Virglpla h.ive returned to work undor irfjunctions. leaving 153,000 non-union minors at work.
The Department of Labor figures follow: State At   Work On StriHe
.Mabama    30,000 	
Arkansjis 10.000 4,000
Colorado    11,000 4,000
Illinois .., •  90,000
Indiana   .^0,000
Iowa «M •  15,000
Kan.sas     1,000 12,000
Kentucky    35,000 4,000
Maryland     2.000 6,000
Michigan   3.000
Missouri     1,000 11.000
Montana   5,000
Now Mexico...    3,500 1.000
Ohio   50.000
Oklahoma     1,000 9,000
Ponna., bituni. .  20,000 l.".5,000
Ponna., anthra.   155.000
Tennessee     8,000 4,000
Texas      2,500 2,000
mah     3,000 1.000
X'irginla       12,000	
Washington  ...    3.000 2,000
West Virginia.. 50,000 40,000
Wyoming       1,000 7,000
Ll
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Executives of Wilkes-Barre, Scranton And Pittston Are Told To Consult Operators and Return to Washing¬ ton For A Final Effort to Resume Full Speed Operations
NO TROOPS TO BE SENT HERE
Keep a Wilkes-Barre Mill In Operation By Mining From Forgotten-Deposits
WOMEN OBTAIN JOBS
The flrst coal operation to be worked on   an   extensive   .scale   in   Wyoming
SENATOR FALLS BEHIND CANDIDATE OF KLAN
Dallas. Tex.. July 22.—United States Senator Charies A. Culberson fell from first to third place when tabulations were made of the returns from th'e flrst Texas Democratic primary at i-.ZO tonight.
The lead was taken by Earle B. Ma>'field, 'tavored son" of the Ku Klux Klan. Culberson has strongly opposed the hooded knights.
Others in the United States Sena¬ torial race at this hour were trailing as follows:
Former Governor James E. Fergu¬ son, .second{ Culberson, third; Cullen F. Thoma.s, fourth; Clarence Cusley. flfth and Robert 1... Henry, anotner avowetl Klan candidate a poor sixth.
These returns were from 59 towns and out of a possible 600,000 votes fo be cast, oni about 25.000 were repre¬ sented In the above restilta.
the fifteenth week of the strike show 4.114.000 tons of bituminous coal and 31.000 tons of anthracite, a total for all of 4,145,000 tons. In the corres¬ ponding week ^f 1921, a year of de¬ pression, the total quantify raised,—, anthracite and bitumlnou.s—was 9,-' 280,000 tons: in 1920 it was 11.500,000 tons. In other words, considering an¬ thracite and bitumlnou.s coal as a common source of supply, the present weekly output is frooi 5,000,000 to 6,- 000,000 tons below normal.
"The cau.se of fhe decrease was un¬ questionably trafflc congestions on the railroads serving«tho non-union flelds. -In southwestern West Virginia and Kentucky from which the bulk of the country's supply during the strike has come, almast evaiy field reported acute transportation difflculty.
"The reports so far received indi¬ cate no significant change in the num¬ ber of men at work. Production in non union I'ennsylvania during the fir.st half of the present week showed a sliglit decrease from the week pre¬ ceding."
The government's immediate efforts In the crisis will be directed toward framing of a program that will allevi¬ ate the fuel .shortage and provide for conservation and equal distribution.
No new moves are contemplated un¬ til the Harding plan of mining under troop protection can be tried out for a week or ton days.
To Import CoaL . Tho Shipping Board is ready In a grave emorgenty to man a huge coal carrying fleet of more than 300 ves¬ sels which would bring fo the United States nearly 3.000,000 tons of coal a month. Already forty American ships have been chartered to bring coal here from Wales and arrangements are be¬ ing made to obtain thirty-one British ves.sol.s. The.se sevon*y-oae ships would be able fo bring in 500,000 tons a month, it is estimated.
Failure of the Shipping Board's move was predicted immediately by offlciais of the United Mine Workers.
These offlciais claimed that assur¬ ances already had beon received from British miners that coal would not be mined in Wales to be sent to this countr>- and thus aid In breaking up the strike here.
Frank Hodges, leader of the British miners. Is understood to have served warning to this effect on the Britiph govemment threatening a strike theee If any extensive importations are at¬ tempted, according to word to union officials here
Some coal, however. Is already on its way to this country from Wales.
The govemment is al.so planning to take steps to prevent profiteering In coaU although the exact courses of ac¬ tion are In doubt, .due fo a lack of lejislation. \'oluntary co-operation. tContinued aa Face iM
Valley since the beginning of the sus pension   on   .•\pril   first   is   located   at Kidder  Pond  in  Wilkos-Barre  Town- Final retums on   ship ani Is making possible  the con
tinned operation of the Fcrenbach !silk mills on Parrish street v.hore daugh¬ ters of the striking miners are em¬ ployed. An output of coal ran;,'ing between forty nnd sixty tons a day is providing employment for seventeen men and the wage scale in effect is fifty cents an hour. One two-ton truck hauling thirty tons a day and a one- ton truck taking lesser amounts of coal are kept on regular duty but in rush periods the assistance of several other trucks is required.
Striking miners purchased the coal Interests at Kidder I*ond from tiie offi¬ cials of Red Ash Coal Company after a similar operation on the old Kidder culm banks had t)een .stopped by lt>ter- ference of the police of Lehigh & Wilkes-Barre Coal Company. Whan the police ordered about two hundred men. women and boys to leave the Kidder dump a protest was m.ide that the coal pickings were being ii.s;d to keep the mills in operation bat the spokesman, of--tfTo company declared that strikers should not expect to u.se company possessions to provide mill operations that v.-ere offering work to the families of miners ami to th.it ex¬ tent supporting the stiflte at the an¬ thracite mines.
Several miners then went Xt Re.l Ash Coal Company and offored to rurcha.se the Kidder Pond co.il rij'hts. Kore for the past score of years pure coal has been waslied by a crecit into what in the old days ;-;orv<,Ml as a swimming hole for the youths of Georgetown. A price of $750 vrjs hxed upon the coal rights by the Hed Ash ofCicials and the miners promptly agreed to pay it. Company oiTicfnIs believed the coal there was v.iluoless but the miners knew better. They proved the wi.sdom of their invostmant by striking oft -the debt of purchase ib the first week's operations.
An agreement was then entered with the Ferenbach mills and the miners offered to keep the flres goJrg. In return for the arrangement the mill operatora offered employment to fifty wives of mine workers, in aiidi- fion to paying for ns much coal as would be hauled to the mill.s. Daugh¬ ters of the mine workers already em¬ ployed at the mills were thus assured of regular employment an<l the min¬ ers of the district were further aii- sisted by the work given to the flfty married women. '
A rich coal deposit was found In Kidder Pond. It was the only section of the Red Ash workings' that had not been washed over in .search for saleable coal and the deposit uas found to be very deep.   In addition to
Mayor Daniel L. Hart returned to the citj^ last night from Washington, confident that an early settlement of the anthra¬ cite coal strike is possible as a result of President Harding's conference with the mayors of the flve leading cities in the hard coal region.
President Harding commissioned the municipal executives with authority to communicate immediately with representa¬ tives of the operators and the United Jline Workers for a dis¬ cussion of certain new phases in the situation. The mayors will then return to Wasliington for another meeting with the Presi¬ dent.
"We were deeply impressed," Mayor Hart declared after stepping from the train, "by the fact that the President is more deeply concerned with the mine strike than most people be¬ lieve . Not only did he prove that ho is not the kind of execu¬ tive who would destroy labor organizations, but he convinced us that he is ready to do whatever is right by the miners. He also insisted that the third party to the controversy—the pub- < lie—must be protected."
j\Iayor Hart together with Mayor P. R. Brown of Pittston, ^layor James Hai-vey of Hazleton and Mayor James Loftus of Carbondale came home last night. Mayor John Durkan of Scranton remained in Washington yesterday for another con¬ ference at the White House, He left for Scranton during the afternoon.
The first step in following .up the hew prospects for indus¬ trial peace will be the opening of diplomatic relations with spokesmen for the miners and operators. Mayor Durkan has already asked John L. Lewis, intemational president of the union, for an immediate hearing. Lewis and Durkan will meet in eitlier Scranton or New York City in the next few days. The exact time of the meeting has not been arranged because Lewis left New York City for New Hampv^hire. However, the miners' leader has agreed to meet the Scranton executive.
Separate Conferences
The anthracite operators will also be approached. It is not likely that they will meet the public officials at the same time as the miners, but they are expected to be equally willing for another hearing of their case. At both of these sessions the mayors will sound out the sentiment of the spokesmen, make certain suggestions and then  report back to the President.
"Our conference with President Harding was arranged through our own desire to see this strike brought to an end as soon as possible," Mayor Hart said last night in answer to re¬ ports that the White House had issued an invitation to the pub¬ lic officials. "President Harding did not know we were coming until an audience with him had been arranged, but when he met us he appeared pleased that somebody was attempting to re¬ store industrial peace to the anthracite region."
"The Prosiilont did not .say whether his recent invitation to oporators to • rtopon thoir mine.s wa.>i intende<l for the anthracite mide owners as well aa the bituminous operators. However, he displiiyod his knowUiijfe of the super- technical nature of the hard coal In¬ dustry. He knows that miners must have certificates attesting their fltneas and experience."
Wrige Offer Secret
-¦Xs soon as the five mayors nnd the clfie.s reprosontod by thom had been made known to the chief executivo, he exclaimed: "Why, you people ought fo know everything about con¬ ditions thore." Senator George Whar¬ ton Pepper acconjfjanied the visitors to the executive office. Once the senator believed too much of th^ President's time was being taken up, but Harding waved aside the inter¬ ruption.
To Profe<'t I'nion
Continuing his comment on the conference  Mayor Hart said:
While Senator Pepper as offlcial es¬ cort lo the niiiyors insiste<l that the greater part of the di.scu.ssion must be considcrod  cortfl<lentiul.   It   is  believed
We wore able to tell President' that President Harding has sympathy Hanling some things about the nn- I for the miners and is anxious that tliracite industry   he   did    not    know,   they be perfectly .satisfle<l with what-
Likewise ho was in a position to toll us .some of the incidents connected with the recont meeting of oporators -ind miners in Washington but tho.se matters, of course, must be kept con¬ fidential.
"The President Impres.sed ua with the faet that he is not working for the dostrucfion of the IJnitod .Mine Workors or any othor labor union, as many people would believe. He ox- pres-sod keen regret over fhe refusal of the miners to accept his arbifralii<n commission plan. Hanling declared that the men he would ,have namod are men of his own selection who are competent and aUsolutely f.iir.
"One thing that we did toil the President is that there is no noed for troops being sent here. Thoir pres¬ ence might sfir up trouble. Harding inquired'if conditions are not peace¬ ful here and we assured him that peace  and  quiet  prevail.
ever agree nent is rouchfl. The ntjat- tor of wages j»as di.sciis.sod and al¬ though Mayor Hart would not give Prosidont Harding's opinion on this de- fail, advici-s from Washington indi¬ cate the President Is sati.sfled to have tho minors woll paid. A continuance of the wage scale expiring on March 31 might tind favor with hint
(Jovernmtnt control of the mioins industry, it is believed, will be re¬ sorted to as the last hope of getting tho ininos In or>eration aguJn. The government is ready to step into the controversy in a forceful way, should a fuel famine confront the third party to the conference—the public—ac¬ cording to roport.s.
In .some quarters it is felt that the oporators will flght govemment control or any probe of flnances to the laat ditch, even fo the extent of granting a continuance of the old scale before .submittins to an Investigation.
Local Girl, Very Recently A Bride, Dangerously III On London Visit
Cablegrams from London last night indicated the critical illness of Mrs. Charles B. Wright.'-.man. nee Irene Stafford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thoma!| Staffonl. 451 South Franklin street. Mrs. Wrighlsman was oper¬ ated upon for acute appendicitis in I..ondon a few days after the arrival in France of fhe Steamship Majestic on which she sailed for Etirope with hor huslxmd two weeks ago yesterday.
jlr. Wrightsman kept in constjint touch with hi.s wifo's family through-
steam sizes  of  coal  a  large  quantity   ^ut   thesnight.     Although   hi.s  earlier
of Number Six coal is being n;moved. Since   the   opening   of   the   Kidder
jCantiniiftd aa i^a«e 15)
reports indicate*! the condition of Mrs. WriKhtsman dangerous, the latest received gave   every   evidence
that she io making a good recovery.
Mrs. Wrightsman wus taken slightly m ju.st before sailing from New York. Upon reaching I^ondon, Sir Gordon Wat5u)n, one of Ensland's most dis- tlngui.shed surgeons, was called to the Rit7 Carlton whore she waa stopping wifh her husband. An operation waa advised and for if she wa.s immediate- ly romovod fo a  London hospital.
The young couple were married at Tulsa. Oklahoma, June 7. Mrs. Wrightsman was one of the city's most charming and popular younn women and her many friends here will entertain every hope for her com¬ plete recovery.