Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1919-10-30
WILSON DECLARES !.
STRIKE UNLAWFUL
PRESIDENT AND CABINET ARE
AGREED THAT STRIKE MUST
NOT BE PERMITTED.
4 MATTER FOR QUICK ACTION
Well Being, Comfort and Very Life OF
All the People Are vitaIly Con-
cerned In Impending Strike.

Misunderstanding the impend-
ing coal strike to be not only unjusti-
fable. but also unlawful, President
Wilson, in statement issued with
the support OF his entire cabinet, call
ed on the coal miners OF the nation,
both union officers and members, to
rescind the strike order effective No
vember l.
The President declined to enter into
me merits or the controversy but en-
phatically declared that the strike.
which he characterized as the most
far-reaching proposal in the nations
history, to restrict production and dis
tribution OF all necessaries of life, had
apparently been ordered without a
vote of the individual miners concern
ed. For this reason. the President
served definite notice "that the law
will be enforced and the means will
be found to protect the interests of
the nation in any emergency that may
arise out OF this unhappy business"
The Presidents statement follows:
"On September %, 1919, the con-
yention of the United Mine Workers
oe America at Cleveland Ohio adopt
ed proposal declaring that all con-
tracts in the bituminous field shall be-
declared as having automatically ex-
pired November /, 1919, and making
various demands, including 60 per
cent increase in wages and the adop-
ton Of six-hour work day and five.
day week. and providing that, in the
coft cfo ontA
should not be secured for the central
competitive field before November,
1919. the national officials should be
authorized and instructed to call
general strike OF all bituminous min
ers and mine workers throughout tie
United States, effective November 1,
1919.
Pursuant to these instructions, the
officers Of the organization have Is.
sued call to make the strike offec-
tive November 1. This is one OF the
gravest steps ever proposed In this
country. affecting the economic well
fare and the domestic comfort and
health of the people. 1t Is proposed
to abrogate an agreement as to wages
which was made with the sanction OF
the United States fuel administration.
and which was to run during the con-
tinuance OF the war, but not beyond
April l. 1920. "
Would Affect All Interests.
"All interests would be affected
alike by a strike OF this character.
and its victims would be not the rich
only. but the poor and the needy aet
well-those least able to provide III.
advance fuel supply for domestic
use. 1t would involve the shuttiaf.
down OF, countless industries, and tt4
throwing out of employment Of lar8s
number OF the workers OF the coSle
try 1t would involve stopping the
operation of railroads, electric light
and gas plants, street railway lines
and other public utilities.
From whatever angle the subject
may be viewed, II Is apparent that
such strike in such circumstances
would be the most far-reaching plan
ever presented in this country to linn
1t the fascilities OF production and
distribution Of a necessity of life.
and thus indirectly to restrict the
production and distribution OF all the
these circumstances is not only unjus
tifiable. 1t is unlawful.
"The action proposed has apparent.
ly been taken without any vote upon
the specific proposition by the hitlivid-
ual members OF the United Mine
Workers OF America throughout the
United States, an almost unprsce-
dented proceeding. | feel convinced
that individual members OF the Unit
ed Mine Workers would not vote,
upon full consideration, in favor of
such strike under these conditions.
when movement reaches point
where it appears to involve practically
the entire productive capacity OF the
country with respect to one OF the
most vital necessities OF daily domes
tic and Industrial life, the public in
terest becomes the param cunt consid-
Grafton
Time for Plain Talk.
1T Is time for plain speaking. These
matters with which we now deal touch
not only the welfare Of a class, but
vitality concern the well being the
comfort and the very life of all the
people. l feel 1t Is my duty, In the
public interest, to declare that any
attempt to carry out the purpose OF
this strike, and thus to paralyze the
industry Of the country, with the con-
sequent suffering and distress OF ali
our people, must be considered
grave moral and legal wrong against
kthe government and the people OF the
United States. can do nothing less
than to say the law will be enforced,
and the means will be found to pro
tsct the interests of the nation In any
emergency that may arise out OF this
unhappy business.
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.