Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-31
ATTACKS WILSON'S STAND ON MINE STR|KE E Calls It's Climax of UsurpOliOns of Executive Pow
 CT. SENDS LONG MESSAGE TO LABOR SECRETARY President Scored for DenunciatiOn of Strike-Mine Executive Declares That He Has Reversed
 Himself.

l That He Has Reversed
 Himself.
 Indianapolis, Oct. BOA direct attack upon President Wilson's course in the coal strike situation as 'the climax of long series of at tempted usurpations of executive power" was made today by John l.. Lewis, acting president of the execu- CTS of America. The attack came in a long telegram to Secretary of La Dor Wilson, replying to a message from him delivered to the conference here yesterday of some four score officials and leaders of the union. 1 The telegram constituted the first exchange of views between the ad- ministration and the union. While the telegram from Secretary Wilson ! reached here yesterday, the reply was not completed until today when it was submitted to the executive board | by President Lewis. It was an- nounced that the reply was approved by unanimous vote. Union head quarters refused to give out the sec retary's message, saying that it's publication was something for the sender to approve.
 The reply indicated that the secre- tary offered to call conference of the miners and employers which of 1 fer was accepted in the following language:
 "We shall hold ourselves in readi- ness to attend any joint conference which may be arranged by you upon fair basis. and stand ready to re- convene the international convention of our organization whenever our scale committee has received an hon. orablH proposition for presentation +o such convention"
 Lewis Telegram.
 The teleoram says in part: "We shall hold ourselves in readi- ! ness to attend any joint conference which may be arranged bv you upon fair basis and stand ready to recon- vene international convention of our ! organization whenever our scale con- mittee has received an honorable pro- position for presentation to such con- vention.
 Permit me to say to you. sir. the unprecedented and unwarranted ac- tion of cabinet and president of the United States in issuing statement of Saturday last has done more to prevent satisfactory settlement of the impending strike and working out of wage aoreen,ent than any other ele- ment which has entered into the sit uation. The presidents statement is a fiercely partisan document because | it attacks the intention of the mine workers without even suggesting that mine onerators may have brought ! about this unhappy situation. and further because threat is made to ex- ercise full force of government to prevent stoppaee of work without any corresponding threat to exert full force of government to enforce fair workine conditions and living wage. "It is indeed sad commentary unon principles of square dealing when the president of the United States and his cabinet hv unanimous vote ally themselves with sinister fi- nancial interests which seek to deny l justice to labor and nrecipitate our country into industrial turmoil. "The president states: The mine workers nroiected strike is not only nnjustifiable but unlawful He states further: It is wrong both morally and legally In other words the presi- dent says it is crime for the min- CTS to strike and threatens punish ment for the crime.
 "May point out to you that under laws of the United States beyond any presidential amendment or ahroga- tion, it is not crime to strike, it cannot be made a crime to strike and that an individual cannot be punished for striking as for the com mission of a crime.
 "The president of the United States is the servant and not the master of the constitution. The con- stitution is the supreme law of the land. In the interpretation and ap- plication of the constitution. the de cisions of the supreme court are ii. nal authority. 2
 "The presidents statement of Oc- tober 25. 1919, threatens invasion of constitutional and inalienable rights | of American citizens. It is the cli- max of long series of attempted usurpations of executive power. 1 Alleged Reversal.
 'The presidential statement an- nounced as it's. excuse for threatening invasion of constitutional rights that the war itself is still a fact, Two days later, however. in a veto mes sage to congress, the president re- fused to approve of enforcement of an act which he said was passed bv reason of the emergency of the army and navy If the president was right Monday I submit. sir, that he was wrong on Saturday.
 'The presidential edict threatens to deny to mine workers protection of both are 18th and 14th amendments
 (Cont;nned on neo. ~. s;,,s :o>1-~~~