Evening star., 1914-12-08
Action Is Sequel to President
Wilson's Suggestion of
Three-Year Truce.
NO SURRENDER OF RIGHTS,
UNION LEADERS DECLARE
Official Statement Places the Re.
sponsibility for Future Peace
Upon the Operators.

DENVER. Col. December s.-A rec
ommendation to terminate the Colo
rado coal miners strike, which had its
inception in the northern Colorado
fields in April, 1910, and which for
more than fourteen months has in
volved practically the entire coal-min-
ing industry of Colorado, was con-
tanned in a communication from the In
ternational executive board of the
United Mine Workers of America, pre-
sented by Frank J. Hayes. vice presi-
dent of the union miners OF Colorado.
in convention here today.
I'VE recognize no surrender and shall
continue to propagate the principles Of
our humanitarian movement throughout
the coal fields Of Colorado" says the
communication in announcing the de-
termination of the executive board to
terminate the strike.
After reviewing the efforts of the fed
eral government to effect a settlement
of the controversy. and quoting cor
respondence which passed between Pres
ident Wilson and the United Mine
Workers of America, the communication
says that in view of the recent action of
the President in appointing a federal
mediation commission I'VE deem it the
part of wisdom to accept his (the Presi-
dent's) suggestion and to terminate the
strike"
Presidents Proposal of Truce.
Final efforts on the part of the United
Mine Workers to settle the strike, the
communication states. began with the
acceptance on September 16 of Presi-
dent Wilson's proposal of a threeyear
truce. This action was taken by a dis
trict convention at Trinidad.
30 N~f4
report, that such action on our part
would speedily terminate the strike,
not thinking for an instant that the
operators would refuse the Presidents 8
plan of settlement. especially when this
plan meant nothing more or less than
the impartial enforcement of the labor
and mining laws of Colorado and the
appointment of an industrial commits
sion by the President to see that such
laws were enforced
in the refusal of the operators to
accept the plan of settlement proposed
by the President and their insistence
on their continuation of a system which
stands for industrial chaos and
anarchy they forfeit the support, If
they persist in maintaining this posi-
ton, of every right law
abiding American citizen.
when the operators refused to ac-
cept the Presidents proposal we en-
tertained the hope that President Will
son would enforce his proposition by
governmental action. After waiting
for more than two months for some
measure to be adopted by the Presi-
dent that would terminate the strike,
and receiving no definite word as to
what his final action might be, we con-
cluded to arrange meeting with the
President, and, accordingly, we met
with him at the White House Novem-
ber 10.
He informed us at that time that he
was legally advised that he could not
take over the Colorado coal mines and
operate them under governmental su-
of the strike in accord with the peace
plan he had submitted. The President
expressed deep regret that the oper-
ators had seen At to disregard his
wishes in the matter, and informed US
he would do everything he could legal
ly to bring about a settlement of the
controversy"
Federal Commission Named.
After quoting the communication of
President Wilson December 1, announc-
ing the appointment of federal media
ton commission to deal with future
controversies between operators and
employees in the Colorado coal fields,
the report says:
This is the last word from the Presi-
dent and in submitting his final propo-
sition he emphasizes the thought that
both parties may see to it not mere
ly to their own interests, but also a
duty. which they owe to the community
which they serve and the nation itself
to make use of this fundamentally of
peace and render strife of the kind
which has threatened the order and
prosperity of the great state of Colo
rada thing of the past In view of
this urgent request, coming as it does
from the chief executive of the nation,
we deem it the part of wisdom to ac-
cept his suggestion and terminate the
strike. In our opinion to wage the
strike further would not mean addi-
tional gain to our members.
"If the operators reject the good
Offices of this commission appointed in
good faith by the President of the
United States, upon their shoulder
will rest the responsibility of any fu-
ture trouble in the mining fields Of