The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-10-29
SEC. REDFIELD
IN FINAL PLEA
Urges Workingnnen to
Increase Output and
Make Living c ost
Lower
STRIKE INEVITABLE,
SAYS JOHN L. LEWIS

indianapolis. Ind. oct "a --
The United States government
has made the coal strike in
avlta bile
John L Lewis acting presI-
dent of the United Mine Work.
crs Of America tonight gives the
nation this message by way of
providing that so far as the
miners are concerned President
wilson's anti-strike edtct actu-
ally has accomplished the oppo-
site ~ that which was intended
Mr. Lewis charges-and Il is evil
dent his utterance will be echoed
tomorrow by the mine workers
executive board-that the implied
threat of government interference n
the strike plan has dissuaded the
mine operators from making an ad-
vance towards negotiation OF the
wage and hour disputes.
If the president had not assured
the mine owners that the govern-
n1ent would prevent the strike. We
would be in position to settle the
trouble before It begins he said.
And the only way the strike will be
called of is through negotiation with
the mine operators. Washington
must bring pressure on the opera
tors II il would prevent this calam-
are done
n am not saving whether I can
or whether I cannot call OF thu
strike now that Il has been or
dered The question is not what
can do bat what | will do. And.
so far IS / am concerned. the soft
coal workers will quit Friday at
midnight"
Mr. Lewis arrived here this after
-
Ha has come to preside at a meeting
Of the miners executive board.
called for tomorrow at 10 o'clock
The acting president was asked
whether tbs workers were prepared
20 Withstand prolonged period
without work and the consequent
privations.
We have $4,000 600 ir our
treasury" he said but the
amount We can spend in relief
work is not an element in the
making OF the strike decision.
This is a big moral issue with
the miners
They are prepared to fght to
the death. II the strike lasts long
enough some of them will die.
But they never will surrender'
Mr. Lewis says the meeting tomor-
row wsN prove to President Wilson
and TO the nation that the strike ia
being ordered through no arbitrarv
whim Of his own, but through the
determined voice of the soo.o 600
workers
As tho situation stands tonight
onlX TWO possibilities, remain for,
averttng the strike If the opera
tors aGree 10 negotiate, there may
be no walkout. II Washington sends
a summons to the union officers to
return TO Washington for another
, conference. some saving elevent may
thereby be found But at present
the strike order stands
Washington, Oct 2S.--All actIv-
titles on the threatened coal strike
and the general industrial situation
here today conferred in the cabinet
( meeting
With Secretary of State Lansing
Is presiding officer the cabinet held
two hours session late today and
discussed the probable action OF
| the government in the event tha
strike, which has been called for
November first. goes into effect
| The cabinet is hopeful that ths
meeting in Indianapolis tomorrow OF
| the International executive board
of the United Mine Workers "a
I a with the tWSItJ-uVG ulD-
| trict presidents of coal producing
states and members of the miners
scale committee will be productive
of som ething that will at least avert
the srike and lead to a compromise
! The meeting of the miners rep
! resentatives may take several days
| Secretary OF Labor Wilson said az
! the conclusion Of the cabinet meet
! ing, For this reason no action will
: come from the administration until
I the miners have finally reached .
decision.
/ II the worst comes to pass, how
/ ever, the cabinet will convene inn
| mediately in special session. It waa
| understood, aud will then announce
the governments anal policy on the
1 strike which has already been term
/ ed unlawful ana unJustiiable" BY
President Wilson. What the admins
| istration's policy will BIO Is as vt
unknown, but the cabinet IL pre-.
pared to make use Of war-ti time legia-
lation to keep the mines open and
! operating II the need ahould Ari14
i New Inauafx1a1 Qonle
4 Aat0e 0goM - 6D&