Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-26
With Support Of Entire Cabi-
net, He Calls Upon Both
Union Officers and Members
to Rescind Strike Order.
PROMISES TO PROTECT
INTERESTS OF NATION
CharaCterizes WaIkout Called
for November | as Proposal
to Restrict Production and
Distribution Of Necessities.

"ooHihS 3 tcii, VII GS. - IiOlulllS
the impending coal strike to be not
only unjustifiable but also unlawful.
President Wilson, in statement is
sued tonight with the support of hi,
entire cabinet, called on the coal
miners of the nation, both union Of
ficers and members, to rescind the
strike order effective November I.
The president declined to enter
into the merits Of the controversy
between the miners and operators,
but emphatically declared that the
strike, which he characterized as the
most far reaching proposal in the
nations history to restrict produc-
ton and distribution of all neces-
saries of life, had apparently been
ordered without a vote Of the in
dividual miners concerned. For this
reason the president served definite
notice that the law will be enforced
and the means will be found to pro-
tect the interests of the nation in
any emergency that may arise out of
this unhappy business"
Statement Issued.
The presidents statement was is.
sued after his cabinet had gone over
the entire situation with Secretary
Wilson of the labor department
whose efforts to bring miners and
operators together in negotiations
had failed. The cabinet, with only
Secretary Lansing detained at his
home by illness, missing. met first
in the morning and again tonight.
Rear Admiral Grayson, the presi-
dents personal physician, was sum-
moned to the evening session. APP
parently he agreed to the submis-
sion of the matter to his patient,
for soon afterward the cabinet meet
ing broke up and the presidents
statement was issued.
7 The president reviewed the steps
leading up to the strike call. includ-
ing the Cleveland convention of the
United Mine Workers of America
one month ago. at which the de-
mands for 30-hour week and 90
per cent increase in wages were for
mulated. The war in itself, the
president asserted. was still a fact.
peace negotiations still in suspen-
sion and troops still being trans
ported. Because of these factors
and the added consideration that
victims of the strike would be
among both the rich and the poor
of the nation. the president said the
proposed walkout could only be
considered as unlawful and as the
nations executive entrusted with en-
forcement of the law, he would use
the means at his disposal to prevent
any stoppage of work.
Again Offers Mediation.
The services of the government
as a mediator offered by the presi-
dent through Secretary Wilson but
not accepted were again held out.
the president declaring that he held
himself in readiness at the request
of either or both sides to appoint
commission to investigate the stu
alton to effect an orderly settlement
of disputed questions with due rec
ognition of the rights of the miners,
the operators and the public
There was no direct intimation
of what steps the cabinet had dis
cussed to prevent stoppage of work
should the presidents solemn warn
ing to the miners to rescind the
strike order fail of result It was
regarded as significant, however,
that attention was drawn in White
House circles to the statements
Ia h1y p,fr,~
cent address in Cleveland, when Mr..
Baker announced that department
commanders had been directed to
furnish troops at the request of gov
ernors without referring the matter
to Washington. Major General
Wood in the central department has
already exercised that authority in
the steel strike situation.
The presidents statement follows:
"On September %, 1919, the con-
vention of the United Mine Work.
ers of America, at Cleveland. O.,
adopted a proposal declaring that
all contracts in the bituminous field
shall be declared as having auto
matically expired November |, 1919.
and making various demands, in
cluding a 60 per cent increase in
wages and the adoption of a six
hour workday and a five-day week:
and providing that. in the event a
satisfactory wage agreement should
not be secured for the central COM
petitive field before November |,
1919, the national officials should be
authorized and instructed to call a
general strike of all bituminous
miners and mine workers through
out the United States, effective No
vember l, 1919.
Pursuant to these instructions
,r.,