Rock Island Argus., 1914-09-08
WILSON APPEAL
FOR STRIKE END
SENT COLORADO
Urges Differences Be Adjusted
on Terms offered by
Federal Body.
HAS LASTED LONG ENOUGH
President Pleads With Factions That
Present Is No Time for
Internal Strife.

Washington. d. G. Sept. S.-Presf
dent Wilson sought 10 end the Colo
rado Coal strike yesterday by appeal
ing TO employers and employees 10
adopt a tentative basis for the adjust
ment OF the strike" drawn up by the
cOmmissiol OF Cancellation appointed
by Secretary Wilson Of the labor de
partment.
The appeal was sent TO the president
OF the Colorado Fuel and Iron COM
pany: the chairman OF the Victor
American Fuel company; the presi-
dent OF the Rocky Mountain Fuel com
pany. and 10 the officers OF the United
Mine Workers of America. II was for
warded after the president had held
several conferences with Secretary
Wilson.
Provides Three Year True.
The basis OF agreement offered b.
the president includes the establish
ment OF a three year truce. subject TO
the enforcement OF the mining and
labor laws of Colorado; the return to
work OF miners who have not been
convicted OF law violations; the pro-
hibition OF intimidation Of union or
nonunion men; the publication OF cur
rent scale Of wages and rules, and the
sppointunent Of a grievance committee
~ the/employes.
The agreement provides that IN
ca.ses where the officers OF the COM
/pany or the grievance committee can
ncf settle difficulties a commission OF
ta:ee men named by the president
sEau step in and act as the final ref
cree of all disputes.
Under the agreement the claim for
contractural relations would be waiv-
ed. no mine guards would be employ
ed, the federal troops now on duty IN
the strike district would be with
drawn, picketing. parading. colonizing,
or mass campaigning by the miners
would be stopped. and the suspension
of work would be prohibited pending
a decision by the commission. The
expense Of the commission would be
n divided between the employers and EN-
v ployes-
The Presidents Appeal.
The presidents letter follows:
Il feel justified in addressing you
with regard 10 the present strike sit
uatfon in Colorado because IL has last
ed so long. has gone through so many
serious stages, and IS fraught with so
many possibilities that Il has become
OF national Importance.
las you know. federal troops have
been in the state for the purpose Of
maintaining order now for a long
time. have been hoping every day
during that time that some light would
come out OF the perplexities OF the sit
uation. some indication that the mine
operators and the miners who are now
on strike were willing TO consider pro-
posals OF accommodation and settle
ment. but no such indication has reach
ed me. and am now Obliged to deter
mine whether ! am justified in using
the army OF the United States indefi-
nitely for police purposes
MANY things may come out Of this
situation II it is not handled with pub
lie spirit and with a sincere desire 10
safeguard the public as well as all
others concerned; perhaps the most
serious OF them all the feeling which
is being generated and the impression
OF the public that no one Is willing to
act. no one willing 10 yield anything.
no one willing even to consider terms
of accommodation.
Cites Basis Of Draft.
"As you know. two representatives
OF the government Of the United States