The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-09-12
WOULD END COAL STRIKE.
rHEsiPENT WILSON CALLS ON
FACTIONS TO BRING DISPUTE
To CLOSE.
appeals to Employers and Employees
IN Colorado Mining District to Join
Togcthcr for Putting an End to In
dnstrial Warfare.

washington, Sept. 7.-President
Wilson sought to end the Colorado
coal strike today by appealing to en-
pioyers and employees to adopt n ten
tative basis for adjustment of the
strike." drawn up by the commission
OF cancellation appointed by Secretary
wilson Of the labor department..
The appeal was sent to tho presi
dent OF the Colorado Fuel and Iron
company. the chairman OF tho Victor
American Fuel company. the president
OF the Rocky Mountain Fuel company
and to the officers of the United Mine
workers OF America. 1t was forward
ed after the president had held sew
erai Conferences with Secretary Will
son.
The basis Of agreement offered by
the president includes the establish
ment Of n three-year truce. subject to
the enforcement of the mining and
SAoor laws of Colorado; the return to
work Of miners who have not been
convicted Of law violations: the prohi-
oition OF intimidation of union or non
union men; the publication of the
current scale Of wages and rules. and
the appointment of a grievance COM
mittec by the employees.
The agreement provides that when
the officers of the company or the
grievance committee can not settle
dimculties commission Of three,
named by the president, shall act as
the hnal referee of all disputes.
Under the agreement the claim for
contractur,l relations would be waiv-
ed: no mine guards would be en-
pioyed; the federal troops now on
duty In the strike district would be
Withdrawn; picketing. paracing, colo
mixing or mass campaigning by the
miners would be stopped and the sus-
pension OF work would be prohibited
pending decision by the commission
The expense of the commission would
De divided between the employers and
employees.
The presidents letter follows:
Il feel justified I'm addressing you
with regard to the present strike sit
uation In Colorado because 1t has last
ed so long. has gone through SO many
serious stages and is frau sht with SO
many possibilities that II has become
OF national importance.
As 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 situation;
something that the mine operators
and miners who are now on strike
were willing to consider proposals of
accommodation and settlement, but
no such indication has reached me,
and I am now obliged to determine
whether l am justified In using the
army of the United States indefinitely
Tor police purposes.
Many things may come out Of this
situation IL 1t Is not handled with pub
lie spirit and with a sincere desire
70 safeguard the public as well as all
others concerned; perhaps the most
serious Of them all Is the feeling which
Is being generated and the impress
sion of the public that no one Is will
ing to act; no one willing to yield
anything: no one willing even to con-
sider terms OF accommodation.
"As you know. two rcprese ntatives
OF the government OF the United
states have been actively engaged i'm
investigating the situation and i'm try
Ing to reach N dispassionatc conclu
sion as to what 1t is possible TO do I'm
Justice not only to- both sides. but
also In the interest OF the public.
The result OF their investigations and
OF their very thoughtful consideration
In the matter has been the drafting of
the inclosed tentative basis for the
adjustment of the strike. recon-
mend IL to you for your most serious
consideration. | hope that YOU will
consider 1t as IL YOU were acting for
the whole country and | beg that you
VIII regard II as urged upon your ac-
ceptance by myself with very deep
earnestness. This is u time. | am sure
you will feel. when everything should
be done that II Is possible FOR mon
to do to see that all untoward and
threatening circumstances of every
sort are taken out Of the life OF the
people Of the United states
sincerely yours.
(Signed) Woodrow wilson"