The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1914-10-09

Miners Organization Goes on RECORD
as Favoring Industrial Peace-Sus-
eests a Method of Settling Disputes
by Mutual Agreement Mt
Commenting on the attitude of the
United Mine Workers union in agree
ing to the peace plan suggested by
President Wilson, the New York World
says:
"The acceptance by the officers of the
United Mine Workers of President
Wilson's suggestion that there be
three years truce in the Colorado strike
zone is couched in the language of rea-
son and patriotism. we feel it our
duty to respond to your earnest wish,
and we do so, as we trust, in the true
spirit of American citizenship
eff there could have been more of
this temper and sentiment on both sides
at the beginning of the controversy we
should have been spared very dis
creditable situation. BY agreeing to
substitute reason for force and to await
such settlements as may be reached
| through conference and negotiation the
miners simply reatlirm the position that
they took in the first place. 1t is only
the local agents of nonresident mine
owners who have refused to arbitrate."
The presidents plan, which was for
INFLATED by a commission of government
employees after an extended investiga-
ton, provides for the establishing of
three years truce between the miners
and the operators, during which diff
culties are to be submitted to locally
elected grievance committees, over
which commission appointed by the
president is to act as court of appeals.
The miners convention at Trinidad
voted to accept the plan by vote of
S3 to s after two days debate.
The letter of the mine workers Or
ganization, which was signed by Pres
ident John p White, Vice President
Frank J. Hayes and Secretary-Treas-
urer William Green, follows:
With feelings of personal esteem we
reply to your favor of Sept. 5.
We have weighed well and thought
fully both the sentiments expressed in
your personal letter and the proposed
tentative basis for the adjustment of
the coal mining strike in Colorado, the
acceptance of which you urge with
very deep earnestness.
We are profoundly impressed with
what you say and fully conscious of
the fact that i'll submitting this basis
of settlement you are actuated only by
feelings of public concern and inspired
by motives both lofty and patriotic.
The organization which we have the
honor to represent stands for Industrial
peace. We favor the establishment of
right relations between employers and
employees to the end that strikes may
be rendered unnecessary. Having prop
er regard for these aims, we sought in
the beginning to avoid an industrial
conflict in Colorado.
| We repeatedly asked for meeting
with the mine owners with the object
in view of entering into contractual re-
lations with them, so that peace might
prevail. Had this been done we are
| confident that the awful industrial
struggle which has been going on in
| Colorado could have been avoided; in
stead Of bloodshed, bitterness, indus
trial strife and economic waste, there
could have been established through
out the coal fields peace, prosperity
and harmonious cooperation.
1t is our judgment that employers
and employees through their chosen
representatives ought to meet and set
tie their differences by mutual agree
ment. A direct working agreement en-
tered into in a friendly spirit makes for
abiding, permanent industrial peace.
This, we believe, ought to be done by
the miners and operators of Colorado.
However we are mindful of the suffer
ing and waste which this strike has
thus far imposed and the additional
sacrifice which will be made if it con-
tinues.
Feeling keenly. therefore, our respon-
sibilities as the representatives of our
organization, we accept your proposed
basis of settlement of the Colorado
strike, subject, of course, to the APP
prevail of the miners of Colorado. (The
miners approvedD
We sincerely appreciate the personal
concern which you nave MANIFESTED IN
the Colorado strike. Speaking as you
do in the name of all the people Of our
great nation, we feel it our duty to
respond to your earnest wish.
We do so, therefore, as we trust III
the true spirit of American citizenship.
Miners Strike Settled.
The long strike of the United Mine
Workers at Vancouver island, B. c., has
been declared off The companies
agreed to employ all men in their en-
ploy at beginning of the trouble with
out discrimination and as rapidly as
physical conditions of the mines will
permit The arrangements further
agree that so long as the best interests