The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1919-10-30
WILSON DECLARES
STRIKE UNLAWFUL
PRESIDENT AND CABINET ARE
AGREED THAT. STRIKE MUST
NOT BE PERMITTED.
A MATTER FOR QUICK ACTION
Well Being, Comfort and Very Life of
All the People Are vitality Con-
cerned in impending Strike.

Washington. Holding the impend
ing coal strike to be not only unjusti
fable, but also unlawful, President
Wilson, in statement issued with
the support of his entire cabinet, call
ed on the coal miners of the nation,
both union officers and members, to
rescind the strike order effective No
vember 1.
The President declined to enter into
NE merits OF the controversy but en-
phatica1ly declared that the strike,
| which he characterized as the most
far-reaching proposal in the nations
history, to restrict production and dis
tributiOn Of all necessaries of life, had
apparently been ordered without a
vote of the individual miners concern
ed. For this reason, the President
served definite notice ''that the law
will be enforced and the means will
be found to protect the interests of
the nation in any emergency that may
arise out of this unhappy business"
The, Presidents statement follows:
"On September %, 1919, the con-
vention of the United Mine Workers
OF America at Cleveland Ohio adopt
ed a proposal declaring that all con-
tracts in the bituminous field shall be
declared as having automatically ex-
pired November 1, 1919, and making
various demands, including a 60 per
cent increase in wages and the adOp-
ton of a six-hour work day and five
day week, and providing that, in the
event satisfactory wage agreement
should not be secured for the central
competitive field before November,
1919, the national officials should be
authorized and instructed to call
general strike of all bituminOus min
ers and mine workers throughout the
United States, effective November 1,
1919
Pursuant to these instructions, the
officers of the organization have Is
sued a call to make the strike cffec
tive November 1. This is one Of the
gravest steps ever proposed in this
country affecting the economic well
fare and the domestic comfort and
health of the people. 1t is proposed
to abrogate an agreement as to wages
which was made with the sanction of
the United States fuel administration,
and which was to run during the con-
tinuance of the war, but not beyond
April 1, 1920.
Would Affect All Interests.
Cali interests would be affected
alike by a strike of this character,
and it's victims would be not the rich
only, but the poor and the needy as
well-those least able to provide in
advance a fuel supply for domestic
use It would involve the shutting
down of countless industries, and the
throwing out of employment of large
number of the workers of the coun
try It would involve stopping the
operation of railroads, electric light
and gas plants, street railway lines
and other public utilities.
"From whatever angle the subject
may be viewed, it is apparent that
such a strike in such circumstances
would be the most far-reaching plan
ever presented in this country to linn
it the fascilities Of production and
distribution of a necessity of life,
and thus indirectly to restrict the
production and distribution Of all the
necessaries of life. strike under
these circumstances is not only unjus
ti1ab1e. 1t is unlawful.
'"The action proposed has apparent
ly been taken without any vote upon
the specific proposition by the individ-
ual members Of the United Mine
Workers of America throughout the
United States, an almost unprece-
denied proceeding. I feel convinced
that individual members of the Unit
ed Mine Workers would not vote,
upon full consideration, in favor OF
such a strike under these conditions.
e. when movement reaches a point
where it appears to involve practically
the entire productive capacity of-the
country with respect to one of the
most vital necessities Of daily domes-
tic. and industrial life, the public in
terest becomes the paramount consid-
Grafton
Time for Plain Talk.
ct is time for plain speaking. These
matters with which we now deal touch |
not only the welfare of class, but |
vitality concern the well being, the |
comfort and the very life of all the |
people. 1 feel it is my duty, in the |
public interest, to declare that any
attempt to. carry out the purpose Of |
this strike, and thus to paralyze the |
industry of the country, with the con-
sequent suffering and distress of ali |
our people, must be considered a |
grave moral and legal wrong against |
the government and the people of the |
United States. I can do nothing less |
than to say the law will be enforced, |
and the means will be found to pro |
tect the interests of the nation in any |
emergency that may arise out Of this |
unhappy business.