The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-12-20
COAL MINERS AGREE
TO PRESIDENT PLAN
Miners Accept Wilson's Pro-
pOsals and Five Weeks
Strike Ends.


strike Is ended. With only one dis.
senting vote, the general committee
of the United Mine Workers of Amer.
lea in session Wednesday voted to &C
cept President Wilson's proposal for
Immediate return to work pending
final settlement of their wage contro-
Versy with operators by commission
to be appointed by him
kilograms were sent out to the 1000
locals of the union by international of.
ficials of the miners instructing the
men to return to work Immediately.
Operators predicted full resumption
OF operations and shipment of coal
from the mines beginning Monday
morning.
Miners, government officials alike
were highly gratified over the settle.
ment Wednesday and all sides appear
ed confident Of final satisfactory set
Element of the fight by the commits
sion.
The action Wednesday ends a tie-up
of the coal industry of more than five
weeks duration and which was more
farreaching in its effect than any
other in the history of the country.
AS a result of the strike the country
was fast approaching a shutdown of
industry and widespread suffering
among its 1O0,OO0,OOO inhabitants.
Two statements were given out fol-
lowing adjournment Of the conference
by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palm
or, who first submitted the presidents
proposal to Acting President Lewis
and Secretary-Treasurer Green at a
conference in Washington last Satur-
day, and came to Indianapolis Monday
to await the outcome of consideration
of the plan by the miners general COM
mittee.
Mr. Palmer's first statement ex-
pressed his qualification at the deci-
sion of the United Mine Workers, and
for their wise and patriotic action"
The statement follows:
"The coal strike is settled as the
government wanted it settled. When
Messrs. Lewis and Green came to see
me Saturday restated what the gov
ernment's position had been from the
beginning and insisted upon their &C.
quiescence They finally agreed to it.
They have not persuaded the officers
Of their organization that the situation
calls for compliance with the courts
order and the governments wishes.
and am certain that all the miners
! 81 the country will cheerfully agree
III the decision Of their leaders. de-
sire to publicly commend the wise and
patriotic action Of Mr.. Lewis, Mr.
Green and their associates. | am, oil
course, gratified at the. outcome, which
8 is one the entire country will approve
, Mining will be fully resumed at once
t the danger Of distress and suffering
, during the winter Is passed, the au
!. thority Of the government has beer
d recognized and upheld, the suprem
o acy of the law has been established
!. and q precedent Of incalculable value
has been set for the peaceful, orderly
= and lawful adjustment Of industrial
disputes"
The miners statement follows:
"The United Mine Workers repre-
= sentatives agreed to accept the presi
!. dents proposal as basis of settle
!. ment Of the coal strike They did 81
= because 1t provides a definite, con
9 crete and practical method by which
d adequate consideration and prope
2 adjustment of their claim for an in
i crease in wages and improved condi
|. lions Of employment may be brough
q about. The United Mine Worker
4 have full confidence in the presiden
) of the United States and profoun'
regard for his will and judgment"
A supplemental statement Issues
Wednesday follows:
'The miners at their meeting thi
| afternoon accepted the presidents pre-
i posal exactly as written, and under
u stand the operators committee has an
4 nounced its acceptance of it. 1t pre-
yides for the immediate general re
sumption of operations in all district
!, upon the basis which obtained on o.
Ia tober 81, 1919, except as to wages
= which are to be IA per cent highe
W than at that date This means tina
= the men shall be taken back to wor
vt in all mines in the positions and upo
the terms of their contracts of en-
ployment then existing, and it is conf
IDENTIFY expected that the mine owner
will accede to the governments cal
., nest request that the status quo G
= October 81 be promptly re-establishe
II in order that peaceful relations bt
. tween employer and employe in a
le parts of the mining fields may be In
ao mediately resumed. / am asking tn
governors of the coal mining states
as cooperate in the effort to bring thi
= about"
Testimony Given in DETER Case.
New York.-Testimon that Capital
Wy ro4,ou hod CT Ooi1itoF