The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-11-06
PRESIDENT WARNS
COAL PRODUCERS
Wilson, in Special Message, Tells
Miners It Is Crime to
Stop Work.
HOPE TO AVERT The STRIKE
Goes Behind Strike Order and Declares
Workers Did Not Vote on the
Question - Army Ready to
Back Law Enforcement

Washington, Oct. 2S-The president
OF the United States and the members
OF his cabinet pronounced the proposed
strike of bituminous coal miners sched-
uied for November L a crime against
the government and people of the
United States.
They brand the strike both morally
and legally wrong and declare in a
statement TO the public that the law
will be enforced and means be found
ito protect the interests of the nation
IA any emergency that may arise out
Of this unhappy business"
In plain. vigorous language the pres
ident announces that the strike caIsnot
be permitted under the laws of the
government for protection Of society.
The government, the president says,
will use every means within its power
to prevent the strike and keep the
mines operated.
The decision means that unless the
miners call off the strike they and
their officers will be prosecuted for
high crime against the government.
Government viii Operate if Necessary.
1t means also that the government
will not hesitate to keep the mines op-
Grating, even if 1t may be necessary.
TO keep them running, for the govern
ment to operate them and protect them
with its strong military arm.
But the president hopes that it will
not be necessary to prosecute the
miners, and appeals to their officers
70 fhn I'M OF
once to recall all strike orders. an
nouncing that he stands ready to see
that their differences with the opera
tors are fairly adjusted by arbitration.
After the attitude of the government
had been informally discussed in Off
cial quarters outside the cabinet, there
was a well defined opinion that the
miners would not continue to defy the
government.
After reviewing events leading up to
the strike call, and plainly declaring the
walkout was authorized without a ref
erendum vote of the workers, the pres
Ident says:
'"The country is confronted with this
prospect at a time when the war itself
Is still in fact, when the world is still
peace, when our troops are still being
transported and when their means of
transportation is in urgent need of
fuel.
''From whatever angle the subject
may be viewed. it is apparent that
such q strike in such circumstances
would be the most far-reaching plan
+evel presented in this country to limit
the facilities of production and distri-
button OF necessity of life and thus
indirectly to restrict the production
and distribution of ali the necessaries
Of life.
"a strike under these circumstances
Is not only unjustifiabIe. it is unlaw-
fuf.
Requests Strike Order Be Recalled.
Elm these circumstances l solemnly
request both the national and the To-
cal officers and also the individual
members of the United Mine Work
erS of America to recall all orders
looking to a strike on November 1 and
TO take whatever steps may be neces-
sary to prevent any stoppage of work.
'fIf is time for plain speaking. These
matters with which we now deal touch
not only the welfare of class but
V1t:illy concern the well being. the
comfort and the very life of all the
people / feel it my duty in the pub
lie interest to declare that any at
tempt to carry out the purposes of this
strike and thus to paralyze the indus
try OF the country. with the conse-
quent suffering and distress of all our
ho
moral and legal wrong against the gov
erDment and the people of the United
States.
81 can do nothing less than to say
that the law will be enforced and
means will be found to protect the in
tercsts Of the nation in any emergency
that may arise out of this unhappy
business.
81 express no opinion on the merits
OF the controversy. I have already sug-
&c sted a plan by which a settlement
may be reached, and I hold myself in
readiness at the request of either OF
both sides to appoint at once a tribunal
to investigate all the facts with a view
TO aiding In the earliest possible or
derby settlement OF the questions al
the coal miners. to the end that the
just rights not only OF those interests
hut also Of the general public. may be
fully protected
Lewis Places Blame on Operators.
Bloomington. Ill. Oct. 2S.-John J
Lewis, acting president of the United
Mine Workers OF America, declined r.
state specifically the attitude OF tbe
United Mine Workers toward the state
ment OF President Wilson. made regard
ing the proposed strike of the bitI1min
Gus coal miners OF the nation. In regard
to this Mr.. Lewis would only say.
II am an American, free horn ,,.4.
ali the pride OF my heritage. love
my country with it's institutions anf
traditions With Abraham Lincoln
thank God that we have a country