Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-11-12

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Indianapolis. Ind. Nov 1.-THE
United States Mine Workers of
America late this afternoon accepted
an invitation OF Secretary Of Labor
Wilson TO meet the operators in,
Washington Friday and nutifed
Thomas T. Brewster. chairman Of
the operators scale committee Of
this decision.
Teiegrams from Secretary Wilson
and Mr.. Brewster, the message from
the latter asking a meeting with. the
minerS' scale cummsttee for the s.n.
trail competitive field On next Mon
day, were received by the mine
workers executives almost stimuli
taneously while they were in ses6iun
here this afternoon. They decidsd
10 accept the governments invita-
tion. and in view Of the Operators
message. notified Mr.. BREWSTER 20
this effect to show their preferences
for the proposed earlier conference.
The Announcement of the decisiun
was mnfie by Ellis Searies. editor
Of the Mine Workers Journal. who
called attention to the fact that the
operators asked for a conference OF
representatives of the Central Com
petitive field. whereas SECRETARY WiI-
SONS invitation did NOT make this
limitataon. Mr. Seariss ssSd thst the
full scale committee of the miners
would he present and that each dis
trict Of the bituminaus fields would
be represented By one oficini
William Green made public the
following statement:
'The United Mine workers' repre-
sentattves decided IN obey thu man
date of the Federal cnurt. IN do
ing so. however. they feel sruat
injustice has been done them. No
Alteration has been paid to their
grievances. The power Of the Fed
erol government was united with
the coal operators for the obvious
purpose Of forcing them to work
under intoierahie conditions and
against their will
"One may reasonably ask II fore
ing men to work against their will
and without a contract n not m
voluntary servittfde- II is surpris-
Ing. indeed, that such a condition
would he tolerated In America,
where involuntary servttute. except
az a punishment for crime. In pro-
hibited by the Federal constitution
Eivedeniy the government deter
mined that the miners must be COM
PEELED to work, regardless Of their
grievances. their protests, or their
constitutional rights.
"what must be the state uf mind Of
the miners. VIM. while sfnarting with
n sense nf injustice. are driven ba-s
to the mines over their prufest nui
asntnst their will by the very govern
menf which they support and served 90
Loyalty during the war with Germany.
What must he the feeling Of these
Tnan when they reaIlSe that the aov-
eminent chooses 10 prDtect the cnai op-
orators Who profiteered d,aring 10 war,
and 70 crush the minsrs vhen they ase
striving for decent wages, tuisrahie cun-
ditiuns Of employment and q higher
standard Of life,
IN fairness to the miners. the .sov-
ernment ought 10 have disss>sd IL L.
nj and moral force towards coupsfl-
ing the operators to meet the miners
IN 3uint conference fur the purpnse Of
nsoDttasing m a0rssmsat and for the
settlement OF tust grievances.
ssfn hunanlf ~ t1na Hata> UUu1ravws or-
has infiicted upon tAe mime wurksEs of
Amsf4na."
IN cummenting On the telaUFam ffum
1fr. BreWHtef. Ellis Esarisa. saitnr of
the Unieed 1line Workefv Journnl and
other ollrials of the oeSauisafiaa. who
fcenNinand % Rsne Cd. .