Evening star., 1919-12-21
NOT PARTY TO SETTLING
STRIKE, OPERATORS SAY,
AS COAL BOARD IS NAMED
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|! AS COAL BOARD IS NAMED
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tives agree that the present contract be
extended during the continuation of
the war and not to exceed two years
frorl April /. 1915"
subsequently. on January 10, 1913.
this agreement was approved by the
convention of the international Union
United Nine Workers Of America"
Cites Cleveland Convention.
AT the fourth biennial convention
Of the international Union United Mine
Workers of America, held in Cleveland.
Ohio. from September 9 to Septem ber
23. 1919. the so-called scale committee
among other things. that the conren-
ton demanded 60 per cent increase
applicable to all classifications of day
labor and to all tonnage. yardage and
dead work rates throughout the CEN
tral competitive field: that all new
wage agreements replacing existing
asreements should be based on a six
hour work day from bank to bank,
five days per week: the abolition of all
automatic penalty clauses; that all
contracts in the bituminous field
should be declared to expire on No.
veniber !. 1919. and that in the event
satisfactory wage agreement Is not
secured for the central competitive
field before November 1. 1919. to re-
place the one now in effect, the inter-
national officers be authorized to and
are hereby instructed to call a general
strike of all bituminous miners and
lisine workers throughout the United
States, the same to become effective
November l, 1919
subsequently conferences were
held between representatives of the
operators and of the miners. at
which the miners demands were sub
mit.ed and declined on the part of
'he operators. The officers Of the
International Union of United Mine
Workers Of America then issued So
called strike orders to all of their
local unions and members requiring
ihem to cease work in the mining Of
bituminous coal At midnight on Fri
day. October 81.
Recalls Former Statements.
On October Is. 1919. the Secretary
or Labor called a conference between
me operators and miners Of the
oltuminous mines in the central COM
peii;ive field. which conference also
resulted in failure to reach an agree
ment- In letter to Secretary will
son, which was submitted to the con-
ference. ! said:
If for any reason the miners and
operators fail to come to a mutual
UNDERSTANDING. the interests Of the
public are of such vital Importance
in connection with the production Of
coal that it is incumbent upon them
10 refer the matters in dispute to a
coard OF arbitration for determination
ana 70 continue the operation Of the
mines pending the decision of the
board e
Subsequently. on October s5, 1919.
i a
mat a strike in the circumstances
therein described is not only unjus-
tinable: it Is unlawful and added:
express no opinion on the merits
OF the controversy. I have already
suggested a plan by which a settle.
ment may be reached. and hold my.
selI In readiness. at the request of
either or bo h sides, to appoint at
once a tribunal to investigate all the
1acts with view to aiding in the
earliest possible orderly settlem ent
OF the questions at issue between the
coal operators and the coal miners. to
me end that the Just rights, not only
OF those interests. but also Of the gen.
eraI public. may be fully protected
pespite my earnest appeals that the
men remain at work, the officers OF the
United Mine Workers Of America. re-
Jected all the proposals for a peaceful
ana orderly adjustment and declared
ns'y. at my direction, the Attorney
General filed a bill in equity in the
united States district court nj Ipdia,
apons, praying for an Injunction to re-
strain the officers Of the United Mine
workers OF Amerca from doing any act
s,- ~ ,-.;u i;ui.nerence OF the strike. A re-
stIaining order was issued by the court
Ionowed by writ of temporary in
junction on November 8, 1919, in which
the DEFENDANTS were commanded to can.
ce! ana revoke the strike orders there
toIore issued These strike orders were
hhscolaingiy h,' ,S revoked in form approved
Dy the court. but the men did not re-
turn to work in sufficiently large mum.
per 20 bring about production of coal
anywhere approaching normal"
recalls Statement Of December q.
On December s. 1919. issued a
statement In which ree.ated The
governments position, appealed to
ne miners to return to work and re-
newed my suggestion that upon the
general resumption of mining opera
tionS suitable tribunal would he
erected for the purpose of inyestient-
ing ana adjusting the matters in con-
troVersy between the operators and
the miners.
This statement was submitted to n
national Union, United Mine Workers
or America. having authority to take
action. which meeting adopted as it's
ACT memorandum prepared by the
Attorney General and approved by
me. embodying the suggestions CON
tanned in my statement OF December
9Th. l am informed also that the Oh.
orators have generally agreed to the
plan therein outlined. / inclose for
your information q copy Of my state.
ment Of December 6, 1919, ana the
memorandum just referred to.
General Resumption Noted,
There has now been a general re-
sumption OF operation In all parts Of
the bituminous coal fields sufficient
10 warrant the appointment OF a COM
mission such as is referred to in the
memorandum of the Attorney General,
and have accordingly appointed you.
Mr.. Rembrandt PeAle, a mine owner
and operator in active business. and
Ar John p. White, a practical miner
as commission with the powers and
duties as set forth in the rnemoran-
dun agreed to and adopted by the
miners and operators. who conducted
all the prior negotiations. If read
jus;n,ent Of the prices Of coal shall be