The Washington times., 1919-10-26

Inc text or President Wilson
ormal statement on the coal crisi
ssued last night with the approvs
4 the entire Cabinet follows:
"On September %, 1919, the
convention of the United Mine
Workers of America at Cleveland,
Ohio, adopted a proposal declaring
that all contracts in the bituminu-
Gus field shall be declared as hav-
automatically expired November
l, 1919, and making various de-
mands, including a so per cent in
crease in wages and the adoption
of a six-hour work day and a
five-day week, and providing that,
in the event a satisfactory wage
agreement should not be secured
for the central competitive field
before November /, 1919, the ma
tional officials should be author
lied and instructed to call a gen.
eral strike of all bituminous
miners and mine workers through
out the United States, effective
November 1. 1919.
Recalls the War Agreement.
Pursuant to these instruc-
tions, the officers of the organi-
zation have issued a call to
make the strike effective Novem-
Der /. This is one of the gravest
steps ever proposed in this
country, affecting the economic
fort and health of the people.
"It is proposed to abrogate an
agreement as to wages which
was made with the sanction OF
the United States Fuel Admins
tration, and which was to run
during the continuance of the
war, but not beyond April 1.
1920. This strike is proposed at
a time when the Government is
making the most earnest effort
to reduce the cost OF living and
has appealed with success to other
classes of workers to postpone
similar disputes until a reason
able opportunity has been az
forded for dealing with the cost
of living.
at is recognized that the strike
would practically shut off the
country's supply Of it's principal
fuel at a time when interference
with that supply is calculated to
create a disastrous fuel famine.
All interests would be affected
alike by a strike of this char
acter, and its victims would be
not the rich only, but the poor
and the needy as well-those least
able to provide in advance a fuel
supply for domestic use.
1T would involve the shutting
down OF countless industries and
the throwing out of employment
of a large number OF the workers
Of the country. 1t would involve
stopping the operation of rail-
roads, electric light and gas
plants, street railway lines and
other public utilities, and the
shipping to and from this coun-
try, thus preventing our giving
aid TO the allied countries with
supplies which they so seriously
need.
The country is confronted with
this prospect at a time when the
war itself Is still a fact, when the
world is still in suspense as to
negotiations for peace, when our
troops are still being transported
and when their means OF trans
port is in urgent need of fuel
without Approval OF Workers.
From whatever angle the sub-
Ject may be viewed, IT is appar-
ent that such strike in sucb
circumstances would be the most
far-reaching plan ever presented
In this country to limit the IA
cilities of production and djstri-
butibn of a necessity of life and
thus indirectly to restrict tho
production and distribution OF
all the necessaries of life. A
strike under these circumstances
is not only unjustiia BILE; it is un-
lawful.
THE action proposed has an
parently been taken without any
vote upon the specific proposition
by the individual members OF
the United Mine Workers of
America throughout the United
states, an almost unprecedented
proceeding. I cannot believe that
any right of any American work.
er needs for its protection the
taking of this extraordinary
step. and I am convinced that
when the time and money are
considered 1t constitutes
fundamental attack, which is
wrong, both morally and legally,
upon the rights OF society and
upon the welfare of our country.
Il feel convinced that individual
members OF the United Mine