New-York tribune., 1919-10-31
Lewis Calls MIR. Wilson
Fiercely Partisan and
Aligned With Sinister
Financial Influences
425,O00 Expected
To Quit Tonight
Temporary Restraining
Order May Be Sought
in indianapolis To-day
By Theodore M. knappen

by theodore M. knappen
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 30.-With q
o00-word telegraphic answer to Secre-
tary Wilson's final appeal on behalf
of the government for revocation
of the bituminous coal miners strike
order, acting President ]. l.. Lewis
of the United Mine Workers Of Amer
lea to-day for the third time within
week made it plain that the soft
coal miners would strike on Friday
After midnight tomorrow night at
least 425,000 workers will absent
themselves from their customary oc-
cupations in soft coal mines, accord
ing to the latest Official figures.
In his telegram to-day Mr.. Lewis at
tackled the course taken by President
Wilson as "the climax of a long series
of attempted usurpations of Executive
power" The Presidents statement
was branded as "tiercely partisan
document" and the President and Con
gress were declared to have allied
themselves with "sinister financial in.
tercsts."
After asserting that under the Con.
stitution it is not crime to strike, Mr.
Lewis remarks that "the President i:
the servant and not the master of the
Constitution" Then after a discussion
of constitutional rights he concludes
with an expression of confidence that
the great majority Of Americans will
support his Interpretation of those
rights.
Mr. Lewis, in the opinion of his as
sociates, executed a clever publicity
coup in using Secretary Wilson's final
appeal as an excuse for answering
President Wilson's statement of last
Saturday. The statement given out
by the special meeting of miners of
ticials here yesterday was not written
by Lewis, and did not really answer
President Wilson.
Lewis Gets His Chance
Lewis got his chance when Secre-
tary Wilson's telegram was referred
to him. He was thus able, through
the entire daily press Of America, to
dustrial battle tomorrow with the en-
couragcment and stimulation Of an
emphatic declaration from their presi-
dent that the President of the United
States was in error, and thus revive
the fighting spirit of those Of his fol
| lowers who have been disturbed by
President Wilson'S declaration that
the strike would be immoral as well
as illegal.
While Secretary Wilson's telegram
was not published here or in Wash
ington, | am able, on unquestioned au-
thority, to say that the Secretary
lows: 1t implored Mr.. Lewis to revoke
the strike order and save the country
from the catastrophe Of strike ir
the coal industry and asked him at the
same time to reassemble the national
convention of the mine workers, the
Secretary Of Labor guaranteeing to
| have coal operators from every soft
coal field in the country meet at the
same time and place. so that negotia-
tlons could be resumed and their re-
suit Immediately passed on by the con
vention, thus insuring that there would
be no lost time and making it certain
that with the final authorities on both
sides present there would be no post
ponement or failure of negotiations.
Instead of definitely accepting OF
rejecting Secretary Wilson's suggestion
in so many words, Lewis practically
ignores it and takes advantage of ths
occasion to put himself right before
his followers, and, as he hopes, before
the country. He leaves the door oper
to future negotiations, it is true, but
of the strike order, and there will
be none. The negotiations will come
after the strike begins.
Text of Lewis's Telegram
The telegram to Secretary Wilson
read:
Your telegram 29th instant wa:
read by. me to assembled conference
of members of our international eX
ecutive board, scale committee of cen
trail competitive field and president:
of our various districts yesterday
On behalf of conference | am author
lzed to make you this reply:
Scale committee representing United
Mine Workers convened with operator!
of central competitive field at Buffalo
September 25 and presented to opera
tors the wage demands as formulated
by our international convention, which
was thoroughly representative of tn,
views of our membership. Operators
declined to consider the merits of ou
demands and refused to negotiate OF
a basis which would be productive O
any results. After one week adjourn
ment was taken to reconvene in Phila
delphia October 8, and joint session
of three days was held in that city
Miners representatives made every eff
tort to negotiate agreement, but wer
met by uncompromising refusal of Goa
operators to consider merits Of ou
position.
AT that time no strike order wa
IN effect and none would have bee,
issued had there been any construc
tive suggestions of a competent natur
offered by the coal operators. Miner
left Philadelphia conference with deep
est reluctance and heavy hearts. Late