The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-10-30
Answer of Mine Chiefs

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INDIANAPOLIS. oct. ao.~ Omitted
Press THE miners statement fol-
lows
ssfshe conference OF United Mine
Workers, composed of membcrn Of
the international executive board.
the scale committee OF The Central
competitive district and the district
presidents of the United Mine Work
crs OF America. gave most profound
considcra ton 60 the statement OF
the president OF the United States.
which appeared In the public press
recently. relative to the impending
strike az hituminous miners, set for
November /. No communication was
received by the International officers
OF tho United Mine Workers Of
America. from either The president
or any representative Of the federal
government.
"a canvass OF the entire situation
shows that n strike Of bituminour
miners cannot be avoided. A reg.
ulariy constituted convention OF rep
r.seutatives OF the United Mine
Workers. held At Cleveland on Sep
TENDER &c. ordered a strike OF btu.
mlnoua mine workers to become ef'
fectiyc November I. In the event
wage scale was not negotiated Defore
that time.
'-rhe highest authority in the or.
ganixation has acted In this manner
and no representative of the OF.
s,anization has authority TO sat such
action aside. The facts are. that the
same supreme authority which
ordered the pending strike. IL the
same M that which approved the
contract which has now expired.
Operators blamed
"rhe responsibility for tho strike
lies with the coal operators. They
have refused 20 negotiate a wage
agreement. Notwithstanding the fact
that tho mine workers representa-
tiv~s have urged and bcsceched them
10 do 80. Fundamental causes which
prompted the mine workers 10 take
this drastic action are deepsratei.
Far two years their wages have 70.
manned stationary. They appealed.
Que year ago. 10 the federal fuel nd.
minlstration chief. DIR. Garfield. and
from him 20 the president OF the
United States for an increase In
wages sufficient 10 meet tho Increase
In the cost Of ueccrurics Of life.
Their appeal WAS rejected. and their
request refused. Noswithsta ndinr
thia. they continued mining coal.
Nov their contract expires. when
they are determined that their rri~v.
anees must he adjusted In a reason.
ably satisfactory manner.
The courts have held that work
ingfu~n have right TO STRIKE. and
may quit work. either xinxiy or col.
iectiv~iy. for tho purpose Of redress.
Ing grievances and Fighting wrongs
The constitution and guarantees Of
this FREQ government give men the
right 20 work or quit work. indi.
viduaiiy or collectively.
The mir~ workers. therefore. are
but exercising tho right guaranteed
by tho constitution ard which can.
not he taken away by the representa-.
tiv~~ % the government when they
gun work. or whom they refuse 20
work until thor grievances arc nd.
jussssi.
The mine wcwkerx' representa-,
tivss ars ready. willing and ANXIOUS
10 met tho coal operators for the
purpose Of negctiAtIn9 an agreement
and bringing about . srssicment OF
tbs present unhappy situation. They
viii respond nj any time 20 call for
such = meeting. and win honestly
endeavor 70 work out wage agree
snent upon fair. equitable basis.
such action alone will put the
mines In operation and guarantee
tho nation an adequate supply OF
coal.
we assert that the mine workers
have no further purpose In view
other than TO secure working
agreement All their demands are
Incorporated In the wage proposal
submitted 10 the coal OPERA prs. and
each and all are subject TO ncgotla
ton
Conscious OF tho grave rasponsl.
billy resting upon The representa-
lives Of the coal miners. we have no