The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-21
President Names Members
 Commission ProDided For m
 Strike Settlement Areen1ent

scrtbed is not only unjustifiable; it IS un- , lawful, and added:
 !" I express 10 opinion on the merits of the controversy. have already suggested plan by which a settlement may pc reached and hold myself in readiness, at the request Of either or both sides, 10 appoint at once tribunal to investigate all the facts with view to aiding in the earliest possible orderly settlement of the questions at issue between the coal opera tors and the coal miners, to the end that the just rights rot only of those inter ests. but also of the general public may be fully protected.'
 APPEALS IGNORED
 Despite my arnest appeals that the men remain at work, the officers of the United Mine Workers of America rejected all the proposals for a peaceful and orderly ad- justment and declared that the strike would go on. Accordingly, at my direction, the Attorney General filed bill in equity in the United States district court at Indianapolis praying for an injunction to restrain the officers Of the United Mine Workers of America from doing any act in fiIrtherance of the strike A restraining order was issued by the court, followed by a writ of temporary injunction on November s, 1els. in which the defend- ants were commanded to cancel and re-
  | These strike orders were accordingly re- voked ill form approved by the court, but the men did not return to work in sufficiently large numbers to bring bout production of coal anywhere approach ing normal.
 RESTATES POSITION
 .fOn December 6, 1919, issued a state , ment in which I restated the govern. ments position, appealed to the miners to return to wcrk and renewed my suS- gestion that upon the general resumption l of mining operations a suitable tribunal ! would be erecee1 for the purpose of In vestigating and adjusting the matters in controversy between the operators and I the miners. This statement was submit 1 ted to meeting of the officers of the lu- ternatiorial Unien United Mine Workers l of America, having authority to take action, which meeting adopted as it's act a memoranduin prepared by the Attorney | General and approved by me, emhodying the suggestions contained in my sta'e- ment of December G. I am informed also ! that the operators have generally agreed l to the plan therein outlined. enclose for your information copy of my statement ] of December s, 1s19, and the memorandum 1 just referred to.
 APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED | There has TOW been q general resump- l ton or operation III 0il pdILS Ol lkie DtlN7 1 minous coal fields sufficient to warrant the appointment of q commission such ias is referred to in the memorandum of the 1 Attorney General and have accordingly appointed you: MT. Rembrandt Peale, a mine owner and operator in active busi- tness, and MT. Jchn P. White, a practical [ miner, as commission with the powers | and duties as set forth in the memoran- dunn agreed to and adopted by the miners | and operators, who conducted all the 1 prior negotiations
 sTf a rendiustment of the prices l of coal shall be found necessary, I 1 shall be pleased to transfer to the com mission. subject to it's unani- l mous action. the powers heretofore l vested in the fuel administrator for thnt purpose.
 TO SETTLE CONDITIONS q am sure it is not necessary fol { me to call your attention to the tre- ! mendous importance of the work ol l this commission or the great oppor' l tunity which it presents for lasting service tc the coal industry and to the ] country. If the facts covering all ths phases of the coal industry necessary o a proper adjustment of the matters
 submitted to you shall be investigated and reported. to the pubic, I am sur
 that your report, in addition to beint l accepted as the basis for new wage agreement for the bituminous coa miners, will promote the public welfare and make for a settled condition in tht | industry
 NO settlement can be had in thi l natter permanent and lasting in lt' benefits, as affecting either the miners the coal operators, or the general pub
 lie, unless the findings of this body are Comprehensive in their characte I and embrace and guard at every pom
 the public interest. To this end, deen
 it simportant that your conclusion I should be reached by unanimous action Upon your acceptance of this appoint ment, I shall be pleased to call an earl,
 meeting of the commission in Wash
 ington so that you may promptly Ia, out plans for your work.
 f Sincerely yours,
 WOODROW WILSON"
 nnrSD ATnDc, rTATENIENT