Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-11-19

us that good faith on the part of the
miners representatives at once for
the purpose of negotiating a settle
ment of this wage controversy. and
that good faith on the part of the gov
eminent requires it to see that such
resumption of negotiations is had at
once and concluded without delay"
Dan w. Simms. special United
States district attorney representing
the government in the injunction pro-
ceedings against the miners, stated
would look to procuring a joint meet
ing of operators and miners at which
negotiations for a wage agreement
would be reopened
Predicts Government Arbitrator.
Failure to get together on the ques-
ton of wages and working conditions
by the miners and operators, he pre-
dicted. would be followed by appoint
ment of a mediator or arbitrator by
the government
Asked in what way the government
might force the operators to do their
part in settling the controversy, Mr..
SimmS declared that the operators. in
several instances, were under contract
to furnish coal to the government, and
that any lack of good faith on their
part would cause irreparable damage
to the government and thus bring them
under the provisions of the Lever law.
John L. Lewis, acting president of
the mine workers, said, after the I'M
ions order had been approved by the
court, that he had nothing to add to
his statement made at the close of the
miners conference. He said that no
supplemental statement to the mem
bership of the organization was con-
templated
Although delegates to the meeting of
the miners apparently were pledged
to secrecy as to details of the proceed
ings during their protracted sessions,
it was learned from a well-authenti-
Gated source that there was bitter OPP
position to compliance with the courts
order.
One of the most complicating feat
ureS of the situation, it was said, was
the action of the executive council of
the American Federation of Labor in
Washington in declaring it's support
of the miners strike the federation
councils statement being used by
some as an argument against calling
off the strike.
Miners Followed Policy.
Ellis Searles, editor of the United
Mine Workers Journal, issued this
statement:
"When the officials of the United
Mine Workers of America announced
that they would comply with the order
of the United States court and obey
it's mandate, they simply followed the
historic policy Of the union of patri-
otto devotion to the government and
American ideals and institutions.
1.-THE United Mine Workers will not
fight the government. 1t is their gov
ernment, just as it is the government
of every other citizen. 1t is their
government, just as it is the govern
ment of the coal operators.
$50 far as their dispute with the
coal operators is concerned, the min
ers contended all along and still con-
tend that their cause is just and that
they are entitled to higher wages and
better working conditions"
Statement by Lewis.
The general committee, composed
of international officers, district pres
idents and members of the executive
board and scale committee, reached it's
decision at i 10 in the morning and
adjourned five minutes later.
Gentlemen, we will comply with the
mandate of the court. We do it un-
der protest. We are Americans. We
cannot fight our government. THAT is
ALL"
This was the statement of John L.
Lewis. acting president of the mine
workers. announcing the decision, and
other members of the conference. ap-
parently worn out by their long hours
of discussion, declined to add to the
persed.
Statment by Palmer.
Washington. Nov. 12.-Following the
meeting of the cabinet Attorney Gen
eral Palmer made statement in con-
nection with the coal strike. 1t fol-
lows:
INV information is that the miners
have submitted to the court the form
of an order cancelling and withdraw
ing the strike order. The strike order
having been withdrawn, therefore the
secretary of labor will invite the OPP
orators and miners to meet Immediate
ly to negotiate an adjustment of their
controversy.
81 have been assuming at all times
that the miners organization would
obey the law when it was called to
in tho NOV II hos hoo,,