The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-11-10
Continued From Page One

from periods OF compulsory unrfn'
ployment. Authentic statistics show
that the miners have less than 900
days Of employment during each
year. The wages OF the miners. con.
seauently. having 10 spread over the
entire year. are greatly reduced as n
result Of the unemployment exist
ing In that Industry.
'The high cost Of living has pre-.
scented itself IN perhaps more seri.
oua form In Isolated mining camps
than In large Industrial csntefs.
There IN usually not the sam. onpor.
tunity for the miners In the mining
camps TO make their purchase 10
Huch an advantage "a II presented
In other localities, Their Isolation
prevents this.
Was No Alternative
Tho United Mine Workers. In
their convention, held during tho
month OF September In the city OF
Cleveland. adopted "a positive declar-
alton demanding improved condi.
tons OF employment for the miners.
They further instructed tho of'icers
10 proceed 10 obtain by negotiations
with the operators the working con-
ditlons that the convention unani.
mously adopted.
There were almost ZOO Delegates
seated In the convention, represent.
Ing 100000 organized miners. They
further positively and explicitly In
structod their officers that unless an
agreement was reached on or before
the FIRST day OF November. 1919. that
the resolution OF the convention call
inr for a strike on November 1. 1912.
should be communicated TO the mem
bcrnhip. There was no alternative.
except for the officers. who are
elected by the membership, 20 carry
out ths direct instructions OF tho
membership. TO resign from their po-
nitions ~ officers. IN which event
chaos and confusion would result.
The officers OF tho mine workers.
with their scale committee. entered
into conferences and discussions
with the operators In tho city OF Buf.
falo. They stated at the conferences
tina, they had full power 70 give and
take In the conferences. The en-
ployers refused 10 make apy offer
whatever. Later on tho miners an
swercd the call Of the secretary Of
labor and further enduavored IN
reach an Agreement. but failed The
officers then proceeded 20 carry out
tho instructions Of their member.
ship and communicated the result OF
the failure Of negotiations. and by
order Of tho convention tho strike
automatically took effect November
!, 1919.
"Mtner~' Rights Invadcd-
tn. machinery which has existed
for years and which has been sue
! cessfui in bringing about agree.
ments between the miners and the
operators. stiIl exists and they, ~
representatives of the miners. were,
and are. ready and willing TO enter
into negotiations without reservation
To reach an agreement.
AT this time. our government In
,orjected itself and applied for an In.
| junction.
"A temporary restraining order
was granted by federal Judge which
restraints the officials OF the miners
from In amy way advising their sncrs-
berrhip on the situation or contrib
usins any % the moneys OF tho Minis
workers 10 the Assistance OF the mon
on strike. also restraining them from
discussing. writing or entering into
any Kind Of convention with their
membership on tho strike situation.
Tho government then proceeded
10 further invade the rights OF the
miners. not only by restraining the
miners. the officers ana members
from fsrthcring the purposes for
which the men contended but went
10 further lengths by dena nding
from the court an order command.
Ing the officers Of the miners union
to recall and withdraw the strike
notification. and tho court corn.
placcntiy complied and issucd the
order.
Never In the history Of our coun-
try has any such mandatory order
been obtained or even applied for by
the government or by any persons.
company or corporation.
Both restraining order and the
Injunction. Insofar az Its prohibitory
features are concerned. are pred.
Gated upon the Lover act. a law en-.
acted by congress for the purpose
Of preventing specula ton and prof.
lteerinr Of food and fuel supplies Of
the country. There never was In
the minds Of the congress In enact.
Ing that law or In tho mind OF the
president when he signed II. that the
Lever net would be applied 10 the
workers in cases OF strike or lock.
outs. Tho food controller. Mr..
Hoover. specifically so stated. Mem.
bers OF the committee having tho
bill In charge have in writing de.
ciared that Il was not IN the minds
Of the committee and the then at
torncy general. Mr.. Gregory. gave
assurance that the government
would not apply that law to the
workers efforts 10 obtain improved
working conditions. Every assur.
ancc from the highest authority OF
our government was given that the
law would not be applied.
I'm the course OF President vii
sons address 10 the Buffalo conven.
ton OF the American Federation OF
Labor. November. 1917, among the
other things he said:
while we are fighting for free.
dom we must zee among other things
that labor is free, and that means
number OF interesting things. II
means not only that we must do
what We have declared our purpose
TO do. SEQ that the conditions OF
labor are not rendered onerous by
the war, but also that we shall see