The Washington times., 1919-10-31
MINERS CHIEFS
ATTACK ON
THE PRESIDENT


The text Of the telegram sent I,
ecretary of Labor Wilson BY Johi
= Lewis, miners chief, regarding tn,
coal strike, follows:
'Your telegram, s29th inst, was
read by me to assembled confer
ence of members OF our interna-
tional executive board, scale COM
mittee Of central competitive field
and presidents of our various dis
tricts yesterday. On behalf of
conference I am authorized to
make you this reply:
scale committee representing
United Mine Workers convened
with operators of central COM
petitive field at Buffalo Septem-
ber 25 and presented to operators
the wage demands as formulated
by our international convention
which was thoroughly representa-
tive of the views of our mem
bership. Operators declined to
consider the merits, of our de-
mands and refused to. negotiate
on a, basis which would be produc-
tive OF any results. After one
week adjournment was taken to
reconvene in Philadelphia Octo-
Der 0 and joint session of three
days was held in that city.
Miners representatives made
every effort to negotiate agree
ment. but were met by uncom-
promising refusal of coal opera
tors to consider merits of our
position.
No Order Then In Eject.
"At that time no strike order
was in effect and none would
have been issued had there been
any constructive suggestions of
a competent nature offered by the
coal operators. Miners left Phila-
delphia conference with deepest
reluctance and heavy hearts.
Later on when we were. called
into conference by yourself at
Washington day by day we reiter-'
ated We were anxious and willing
to go into joint negotiations with
out reservations. having in mind
only. interests of our people. for
purpose of negotiating wage
agreement which would avert
strike. in bituminous industry.
"Our position remains the same
{ today. We shall hold ourselvest
in readiness to attend any joint
conference which. may be arranged
by you upon fair basis and stand
ready to reconvene international
convention OF our organization
whenever our scale committee has
received an honorable proposition
, for presentation TO such eonveu-
tion.
Attack Upon President.
Permit me to say to your. sir.
the unprecedented and unwar-
ranted action of Cabinet and
President kof the United States
in issuing statement of Saturday
last has done more to- prevent
satisfactory settlement of impend-
ing strike and working out of
wage agreement than any other
clement which has entered into
situation The. Presidents state
ment is a fiercely partisan docu-
ment because 1t attacks the inten-
tion of the mine workers without
even suggesting that mine opera
tors may have brought about this
unhappy situation. and further be-
cause threat is made to exercise
full force of Government TO pre-
vent stoppage of work without
any corresponding threat to exert
full force of Government to en-
force fair working conditions and
a living wage.
IT is, indeed, a sad commen-
tafy upon the principles of square
dealing when the President of the
United States and his Cabinet. by
unanimous vote, ally themselves
with sinister financial interests
which seek to deny justice to Ia
Dor and precipitate our country
into industrial turmoil. The Presf-
dent states: The mine workers
PROJECTED strike is not only un-
justifiable. but unlawful He
states further: Tt is wrong both
morally and legally In other
words, the President says IL is a
crime for the miners To strike