Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-10-29
COAL STRIKE UNJUSTIFIABLE.
So Says President in Issuing Solemn
Warming to Miners.

So Says President in Issuing Solemn
Warming to Miners.
Washington, Oct. 25.-Holding
only unqustif1able, but also unlawful,
Presid ent SWilson In a statement is
sued tonight, with the support of
his entire Cabinet, Called on the
coal milieZsofs the nation, both union
officers and m en- bers, to rescind the
strike oEder effective Nov. /.
The NPgAsi dent q eolined to enter,
|tritosB. J., Si.sSss lot si,a on royersy
betwen u the! mf fiierTs and & opera tors. irs
butaiemphatically declared that the
strike, which he characterized as the
most far-reachihg proposal in the
nations history to restrict produc-
tion and distribution Of all neces-
saries of life, had apparently been
ordered without vote of the indi-
Vidual miners concerned For this
reason the President served definite
notice that the law will be en-
forced and the means will be found
to protect the interests Of the ma
tion If any emergency may arise out
Of this unhappy business"
The Presidents statement was is
sued tonight after his cabinet had
gone over the entire situation with
Secretary Wilson, Of the Department
Of Labor, whose efforts to bring
miners and operators together in
negotiations had failed. The cabi-
net, with only Secretary Lansing
detained at home by illness) miss
ing, met first in the morning and
again tonight. Rear Admiral Gray
son, the Presidents personal physi-
clan, was summoned to the even
ing session. Apparently he agreed
TO the submission of the matter to
his patient, for soon. afterward the
cabinet meeting broke up and the
Presidents statement was issued.
The President in his statement re-
viewed the steps leading up t0 the
strike call, including the Cleveland
convention OF the United Mine Work
ers Of America one month ago, at
which the demands for a 30-hour
week and 60 per cent increase in
wages was formulated. The war in
itself, the President asserted, still
was fact, peace negotiations still
in suspense and troops still being
transported.
Because Of these factors and the
added consideration tnat victims Of
the strike would be among both the
rich and the poor Of the nation, the
President said the proposed Walk-out
could only be considered as unlaw-
full. and as the nations executive, en-
trusted with the enforcement Of the
law, he would use the means at his
disposal to prevent any stoppage OF
work.
The services Of the government as
mediator. offered yesterday by the
President through Secretary Wilson.
but not accepted, were again held
out, the President declaring that he
held himself in readiness, at the re-
quest of either or both sides, to ap-
point commission to investigate
the situa ton, to effect an orderly
settlement Of disputed questions with
due recognition Of the rights Of the
miners, the operators and the pub
lie.
There was no direct intimation Of
what steps the cabinet had discussed
to prevent stoppage Of work should
the Presidents solemn warning to
the miners to rescind the strike
order fail of result. It was regarded
as significant, however, that atten-.
tion was drawn in White House
circles to tho statements made by
Secretary Baker In a recent address
in Cleveland, when he announced
that department commanders had
been directed to furnish troops at
the request of Governors without re-
ferring the matter to Washington.
Major Gen. Wood in the central de-