The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-10-31
STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT
ON IMPENDING COAL STRIKE

is the statement of the president on
the impending coal s.r..Ae, ar the :: :
jov:oment of the second session of
the cabinet meeting.
September %, 1919, the convention
of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, at Cleveland, Ohio, adopted pro-
posal declaring that all contracts III
the o;5u.,incas fields shc,l be &c
clared as having automatically ex-
pired Nov. l, 1919, and making vari-
Gus demands including a sixty per
cent. increase in wages and the adop-
ton of six hour work day and a
five day week; and providing that, in
the event a satisfactory wage agree
ment should not be secured for the
central competitive field before Nov.
l, 1919, the national officials should
be authorized and instructed to call a
general strike of all bituminous min
ers and mine workers throughout the
United States effective Nov. 1, 1919.
One of the Gravest of Steps.
Pursuant to these instructions, the
officers of the organization have is
sued a call to make the strike effec-
tive Nov. /. This is one of the
gravest steps ever proposed in this
country affecting the economic vel
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-
tinrance of the war, but not beyond
April 1, 1920. This strike is pro-
posed at time when the government
is making the most earnest efforts to
reduce the cost of living and has
appealed with success to other classes !
of workers to postpone similar dis
putes until reasonable opportunity |
has been afforded for dealing with the
cost of living. It is recognized that
the strike would practically shut off
the country's supply of its principal
fuel at time when interference with
that supply is calculated to create
disastrous fuel famine. Ali interests
would be affected alike by 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 part of
the workers of the country. It would
involve stopping the operation Of
railroads, electric light and gas
plants, street railway lines and other
public utilities, and the shipping to
and from this country, thus prevent
ing our giving aid to the allied coun-
tries with supplies which they so
need. The country is con-
fronted with this prospect at time
when the war itself is still a fact,
when the world is still in suspense as
% negotiations for peace.
Strike Unjustifable.
s'From whatever angle the subject
nay be viewed, it is apparent that
such a strike in such circumstances
would be the most far reaching plan
'ver presented in this country to
init the facilities of production and
distribution of necessity of life and
hus indirectly to restrict the pro-
'uction and distribution of all the
.ecessaries of life. A strike under
hsSe circumstances is not only un-;
ustifable. 1t is unlawful. The
cticn proposed has apparently been
aiken without any vote upon the spe-l
ifc proposition by the individual
lembers of the United Mine Workers
{ America throughout the United
tates, an almost unprecedented pro-
eeding. I cannot believe that any
ght of any American worker needs
,r its protection the taking of this
Extraordinary step, and l am con-
inced that when the time and man.
er are considered, it constitutes
attack, which is wrong
9th morally and legally, upon the
ghts of society and upon the welfare
our country. feel convinced
at individual members of the United
line Workers would not vote, upon
Ill consideration, in favor of such
rike under these conditions.
when A movement reaches the
oint where it appears to involve
ractically the entire productive