The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-12-11
Text of President
Wilson's Proposal
Strike Settlement

4uuCn COIL uSlOl III GIlC DlilNS VI lils
people generally and possibly of both
parties to this unfortunate controver-
sy sto the attitude and purpose Of
the government in its handling of the
situation.
1.-THE mine owners offered an in
crease of 20 per cent, conditioned
however, upon the price of coal be-
ing raised to an amount sufficient to
cover this proposed increase of wages,
which would have added at least
$4,000, 1000 to the annual coal bill
of the people. The fuel administra-
tor in the light of present informa-
ton has taken the position and l
think with justification, that the pub
lie is now paying as high prices for
coal as it ought to be required to pay
and that any wage increase made at
this time ought to come out of the
profits of the coal operators.
I'm reaching this conclusion, the
fuel administrator expressed the per
sonal opinion that the ID per cent in
crease in all mine wages is reasonable,
because it would equalize the min
ers' wages on the average with the
cost of living, but he made it perfect
" cleas THAT the operators and miners
are at liberty to agree upon a large
increase provided the operators will
nav It out of their profits so that the
price of coal would remain the same.
Secretary Wilson's Offer.
"The Secretary Of Labor, in an eff
fort at cancellation between the par
ties, expressed his personal opinion
infavor of a large increase. His et-
fort at cancellation failed, however,
because the coal operators were un-
willing to pay the scale he proposed
unless the government would advance
the price of coal to the public and
this the government was unwilling
to do.
"The fuei administrator had also
suggested that a tribunal be created
in which the miners and operators
would be equally represented to con-
slider further questions of wages and
working conditions as we'll as profits
of operators and proper prices for
coal. shall, of course, be glad to
aid in the formulation of such tri-
bunal
~ understand the operators have
generally agreed to absorb an in
crease of Ia per cent in wages, so
that the public would pay not to ex-
coed the present price fixed by the
fuel administrator, and thus way is
opened to secure the coal of which the
people stand in need, if the miners
will resume work on these terms pend
ing thorough investigation by an
impartial commission which may re-
adjust these wages and prices.
"By the acceptance Of such plan
the miners are assured immediate
steady employment at substantial
increase in wages and are further as
sured prompt investigation and &C.
ton upon questions which are not
now settled to their satisfaction.
must believe that with clear under
standing of these points they will
return to work. If, never
.heless, they persist in remaining on
strike, they will put themselves in an
attitude Of striking in order to force
he government to increase the price
IF coal to the public so as to give a
till further increase in wages at this $
line rather than allow the question {
Il further increase in wages to be !
lealt with in an ordinary manner by {
! fairly constituted tribunal repro {
enting all parties interested.
Tribunal TO be Formed.
mo group of people can Justify '
uch position and the miners owe it
q themselves, their families. their !
elbow workmen in other industries c
nd TO their country to return to {
york. a
Immediately upon general re- b
umption of mining, shall be glad to a
i'd in the prompt formation of such
tribunal as | have indicated to make r
urther inquiries into this whole mat o
err and to view not only the reason Il
bleness of the wage at which the c
liners start to work but also the rea. r
onableness of the government prices v
or coal Such tribunal should r.
ithin sixty days make its report, o
hitch could be used basis for nego1 u
alton for new wage agreement. p
must make it clear, however, that Ii
ne government can not give its aid al
} any such further investigation I'M p
| there is general resumption Of p
ork. in
al ask every individual miner IN N