Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-29
COAL MINERS LEADERS.
AT MEETING, DECLINE
TO RECEDE ON STRIKE
indianapolis Decision
Reached After Two
Hours Debate

CALL EFFECTIVE
MIDNIGHT FRIDAY
Many Branches Of Unions in
Soft-C Coal Field Are
Represented.
INDIANAPOLIS. Inl., October 10
The strike order OF the United Mine
Workers effective Friday midnight.
stands. After two hours discussfon.
the conference here today Of emcials
Of the big union, IT was anonunce1.
had no idea Of modifying the call fer
. cessation Of work.
President Wilson's pronounceaent
on the threatened industrial war had
no defender in the conference. IT was
stated.
Statement to Be Issued.
The grounds on which this decision
was reached will be explained in a
statement to the public. which prob
ably will be issued late today. A COM
mittee to draw up this statement was
appointed and given three hours in
which to prepare it. the conference ad-
journing until pm.
AS explained by Ellis Searles, editor
of the unions magazine and offciai
spokesman of the conference. the
statement will "set before the Ameri-
can people, the exact situation from
the miners standpoint" 1t will prob
ably be long, he said. and will cover all
aspects of the problem.
He brought out that it will not be
specifically an answer to the President.
but will discuss the chief exscutive's
stand as one Of the incidents Of the
LAS snatteruf fact" he added, this
organization does not know ofiicialiy
that President Wilson ever uttered
come to US. but we have accepted the
newspaper version of it as substan-
TALLY correct"
Ibid any one in the conference de-
fend the Presidents stand?" he was
asked.
mot one. On the contrary. every
speaker who touched on it expressed
the thought that President Wilson's
action was calculated to embitter
rather than mollify the mine workers.
Reports From Districts.
The committee which is to draft the
public statement consists of William
Green, secretary-treasurer OF the
union. and the following district
vania; John Moore, Ohio; Edward
Stewart, Indiana; Frank Harrington.
Illinois. These districts comprise the
bulk of the central competitive field.
Their executives reported to the con-
ference that the union members In
them are 100 per cent in favor Of the
Cleveland wage policy. and similar re-
ports came from other districts.
"In view Of this unanimity OF opin-
ion. it would be folly for any one to
expect out of this conference any ac-
ton tending to change the present
policy of the United Mine Workers"
said Mr.. Searles. 1T is an essential
part Of that policy, however, that We
remain willing to negotiate with the
operators at any time they do not in
sist upon impossible conditions"
When the conference was opened
John L. Lewis. acting president OF the
organization, explained developments
since the Cleveland convention for the
been out of direct touch with their
officers. This presentation of the case
included a reading OF President Will
sons message. A big stack of tele-
grams from locals in various parts OF
the country, urging the conference to
stand firm, was exhibited and q gen.
eral discussion ensued.
1t was indicated by several menu
bers of the conference that its bust
ness probably would be wound up to-
night. The executive board of the
union will meet in separate session
tomorrow.
Sober-Faced Gathering.
The delegates entered the confer
ence this morning sober-faced and
with a full realization of the serious
ness OF their undertaking. Not a
man among them but was aware that
the national and state governments
that the governments are backed by.
widespread public opinion that the
miners are in the wrong. On every
hand they have been met with ex-
pressions of the grave consequences
attacking to the threatened strike on
the verge Of winter.
Effect Upon Railroads.
Railroads also would be seriously af.N
fected by the strike. for it is known thai
in the majority Of cases the supplies Of
locomotive fuel would be early exhaust.
ed. This would mean annulment OF
trains, and consequent shortage OF many
Aecessities.
this morning. miners officials reiterated
that they were willing to negotiate with
the operators. but said that the latter
had shown no inclination to discuss the
demands.
FOR the first time in the history of
the miners wage conference" Vice
President Lewis said, The operators
have failed to offer a suggestion. Here.
tofore we have been able to sit down
and the operators their proposals. but
this time is unique"
Practically 80 per cent of the
miners are members of the organfza.
ton and directly involved in tbs
strike" said William Green, interna-
tional secretary-treasurer Of the MIN
ers. "Conscripttng men to operate the
mines would avail the government.
nothing. as there would NOT be
enough men to produce much coal"
Every district of the International
organization of the miners WAC called
upon to send representatives to the
conference today except those &c
Canada.
~