Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1919-10-31
MINERS REFUSE TO
YIELD; U.s. READY
TO BREAK STRIKE
Union Officials in Secret Session
Disregard Wilson's Plea.
QUIT FRIDAY AT MIDNIGHT
High Executive Council Decides That
Walkout Cannot Be Avoided Now
Government Moves to Pre-
vent a Coal Famine.


Mine Workers of America in session
here refused to rescind the strike call
for Friday at midnight. despite the
warning of the president and the ma
tion's imperative need Of fuel.
"a canvass of re entire situation
shows that a strike of bituminous
miners cannot be avoided" was the
way the formal message from the
council to the public put it.
The statement, in part, follows:
"The conference of United Mine
Workers, composed of members of
the international executive board, the
scale committee of the central com
petive district, and the district pres
ident, United Mine Workers of Amer
lea gave most profound considera-
ton of the statement of the president
of the United States, which appeared
in the public press recently, relative
to the impending strike of bituminous
miners, set for November /.
No Official Message.
mo communication was received
by the international officers of the
United Mine Workers of America from
either the president or any represent
alive of the federal government
"A canvass of the entire situation
shows that strike of OItuminous
miners cannot be avoided.
"a regularly constituted convention
of representatives of the United Mine
Workers, held at Cleveland. O., on
September 25, ordered a strike of BIZ
luminous mine workers. TO become ef-
fective November l, in the event a
wage scale was not negotiated before
that time.
THE highest authority in the or
ganlzation has acted in this manner,
and no representatives of the organ
ization have authority to SET such ac-
ton aside.
THE facts are that the same SUI
preme authority which ordered the
pending strike is the same as that
which approved the contract which
has now expired.
Operators Blamed.
"The responsibility for the strike
rests with the coal operators. They
have refused to negotiate a wage
agreement, Notwithstanding the fact
the mine workers representatives
have urged and beseeched them to do
so. The fundamental causes which
prompted the mine workers to take
this drastic action are deep seated.
CONSCIOUS of the grave RESPONSE
hility resting upon the representatives
of the coal miners, we have no other
alternative than to carry out the in
structions OF the United Mine Work
ers' convention.
1.-THE issue has been made, and If
it must be settled upon the field of
Industrial battle the responsibility
rests fairly and squarely upon the
coal barons alone"
Government Moves Swiftly.
Washington, Oct 30--Apprised of
the determination of the miners to
strike in defiance of the president, the
administration moved swiftly with It's
plans TO deal with situation fraught
with the possibilities, not only of
fuel famine. but of war between the
government and organized labor.
While members of the cabinet and
other officials were in conference per-
fecting program to meet force with
force in the bitumnous mine fields and
to invoke all possible processes of law
to break, If not to thwart the strike
which President Wilson pronounced H.
legal, leaders in congress promised all
the additional legislation the admins
tration may need to protect the people
from the threatened calamity.
The courts have held that the work
ingmen have Il right TO strike and may
quit work either singly or collectively
for the purpose of redreSsing griev-
ances and righting wrongs. The Con
stitution and guarantees of this free
government give men the right to work
or cult work individually or collec-
lively.
The mine workers, therefore. are
but exercising the right guaranteed
by the Constitution and which cannot
he taken away by the representatives
VI SoNSIhIueHN Wittu tiiSA Quit NoEk OF
when they refuse to work until their
grievances are adjusted.
The strike, Attorney General Palmer
said will he a more deadly attack upon
the life of the nation than the assault
of an invading army" and every re-
source OF the nation viii be brought to
hear Ito prevent the national disaster"
In accord with the decision that the
strike is unlawful Attorney General
Palmer announced that the persons re-
sponsible for il would be prosecuted
Cor conspiracy.