The sun., 1919-10-27
LEWIS THANKS GOD
u. S. MEN MAY STRIKE
Mine Workers' Leader Falls
Back on Lincoln

BLOOMINGTON, ILL.,, Oct 26.-John L.
Lewis, acting president of the United
Mine Workers OF America, tonight de-
clined to state specifically the attitude
Of the United Mine Workers toward the
statement of President Wilson regard
ing the proposed strike of the bitumi-
nous coal miners Of the nation.
In regard to the answer Lewis would
only say:
II am an American, free born. with all
the pride of my heritage 7 love my
country with its institutions and tradi-
tons. With Abraham Lincoln, l thank
God that we have country where men
may strike. May the power of my Gov
eminent never be used to throttle and
crush the efforts of the toilers to i'm
prove their material welfare and ele-
vate the standard of their citizenship"
Mr.. Lewis said that he had not re-
teived any message from Washington.
He added that he had called meeting
Of the national executive board of the
United Mine Workers to convene at In
dianapolis Wednesday morning before
President Wilson's statement was made
public. The gathering had been called
primarily to formulate details OF the
strike.
When asked to make a statement on
the rights of the miners TO strikei No
vember 1, in the face Of the critical con-
ditions. he said:
THE coal operators have not offered
a single constructive suggestion designed
to avert this catastrophe. All through
the negotiations at Buffalo later at
Philadelphia and still later at Washing
ton the miners waited in vain for any
counter proposal to be submitted by the
operators. During the conference with
Secretary Wilson at Washington we
said many times that we were willing
to Renter negotiations with coal opera
tors without reservation to conclude
the making of an agreement forth.
with. The offer that We made was
repeatedly declined. The responsibility
for the stoppage OF work In the blum
nous coal districts must necessarily liz
with the coal operators"
Mr.. Lewis was asked what answer
he had to make to the contention OF
the operators that the contract had moi
expired.
our contract read that Il was Ia
continue In effect during the period until
the war ended and not TO exceed March
a. 1920" he replied. THE war is over
Our soldiers have returned. All the
Government war agencies are disbanded
A German vessel of war is even now
heading for New York upon a peace
mission. In substance, FORM ana realty
the war is erded and our contract has
expired.
well, now we are willing to stand
on the merit of our proposal This SO
per cent. increase is subject TO negotia-
tons as are all demands of the United
Coal Miners. but they will not even
negotiate
During the past twelve months the
miners of the United States have aver.
aged only SIS a month. or $500 for the
entire period. The men have worked or
an average of less than three days a
week since the armistice was signd
Men with families cannot live on this
amount. Children in mining camps are
undernourished. This is a matter OF life
and death to the women and children Of
the miners families as we'll as II is &c
the public. Charity begins at home
Our aim IL to make shorter work,
ing period and to distribute the work
over more days during the year. The
miners in England have a seven hour
day, from bank to bank. which msani
from the time they leave the surface OF
the ground until they get back. Miners
in the United States have an eight houl
day, but that doesn't count until they
get to the face of the coal. They are II