Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-10
Will SON WARNS MINERS
ALL UNIONS MAY SUFFER
Presidents Offer is ID Per Cent
Increase and an Immediate
Adjustment of Wages.

Indianapolis, Dec Following is tho
text Of President Wilson's proposal to the
bituminous coal miners as given out here
yesterday:
II have noticed with deep concer
the developments In the bituminols coal
strike and am convinced there is much
confusion in the minds of the people
generally, and possibly both parties TO
this unfortunate controversy, rs To the
attitude and purposes of the Government
in its handling of the situation.
"Thc mine workers offered wage
increase of 20 per cent, conditioned, how
ever, upon the price of coal being raised
to an amount sufficient to cover this
proposed increase of wages, which would
have added at least $3.50, 900, 900 to the
annual coal bin Of the people. The Fuel
Administrator, in tho light Of present
information, has taken the position, and
think with entire justification, and that
the public is now paving as high prices for
coal rs it ought to be requested TO pay,
and that any wage increase made nj this
time ought TO come out OF the profits
OF the coal operators.
''ln reaching this conclusion tho Fuel
Administrator expressed tho personal
opinion that the IA per cent increase
IN all mine wages IS reasonable because
it would equalize the miners wages on the
average with the cost Of living, but he
made il perfectly clear that the operators
and the miners are at liberty TO agree upon
n large increase provided the operators
will pay it out Of their profits SO that the
price Of coal would remain the same.
"fhe Secretary of Labor, IN an effort
Mt Cancellation between the parties,
expressed his personal opinion in favor
of a larger increase. His effort at con
ciliation failed however, because the coal
operators were unwilling to pay the scale
he proposed unless the Government
would advance the price Of coal TO the
public, and this the Government was
unwilling 10 do.
THE Fuel Administrator bad also
suggested that tribunal be created
in which the miners and operators
would be equally represented TO
consider further questions Of wages and
working conditions, rs we'll as profits of
operators and proper prices for coal.
| shall, of course. be glad to aid IN the
formation of such tribunal.
Il understand the operators have
generally agreed to absorb IN increase
Of Ia per cent in wages, so that the public
would paw not to exceed the present price
fixed by the Fuel Administrator, and
thus a way Is opened to secure the coal
Of which the people stand in need, If the
miners will resume work on these terms
pending thorough investigation by an
impartial commission which may re-
adjust both wages and prices.
By the acceptance of such q plan the
miners are assured immediate steady efn-
ployment at a substantial increase in
wages and are further assured prompt
lf,.+ apI 81
which are not now settled 10 their salts
faction. must believe that with n clear
understanding Of these points they will
promptly return to work.
III, nevertheless, they persist IN re-
naming on strike they will put them
selves IN an attitude Of striking In order
To force the Government To increase the
price OF coal to the public SO as TO give
a still further increase IN wages at thus
time rather than allow the question of
further increase in wages to be dealt with
in an orderly manner by a fairly consti-
tuted tribunal representing all parties
interested.
'No group of our people can justify
such position, and the miners owe it to
themselves, their families their fellow
workmen in other industries and to their
country to return to work.
Immediately upon geneTal IesuInp-
ton OF mining | shall be glad to aid in the
prompt formation of such a tribunal
as | have indicated TO make further in
quries into this whole matter and to
review not only the reasonableness of
the wages at which the miners start to
work. but also the reasonableness of
the Government prices for coal.
such n tribunal should within sixty
days make It's report, which could be
used as a basis fr negotiations for
wage agreement.
Il must make it clear. however, that
the Government cannot give its AID
to any such further investigation until |
there is a general resumption of work.
Il ask every individual miner to give I
his personal thought to what | say. T
hope lie understands fully that he Will |
be hurting his own interest and the +
interest Of his family and Will be throwing
countless other laborIng men out Of I
employment if he shall continue the T
present strike, and, further. that he will T
create an unnecessary and unfortunate +
prejudice against organized labor which t
viii be injurious to the best interests of +
working men everywhere
Woodrow Wilson.