Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-11-04
LABOR SIDE OF 1T.
Samuel Gompers Discusses lniunc.
ton AGAINST Strikers.

ganized labor in Washington, last Fri.
lay night, declared the injunction il
the coal strike case can only result
in creating new and more disturbing
issues which may not be confined
solely to the miners"
The statement, issued jointly by Mr.
Gompers, Vice President Woll anC
Secretary Morrison, of the federation
after they had protested to Attorney
General Palmer against the action OF
the federal court at Indianapolis, fol-
lows:
Throughout the period of the war
and during the nations time of stress
the miners of America labored pa
tiently, patriotically and arduously in
order that the principles of freedom
and democracy might triumph over
the forces of arbitrary authority die
tatorship and despotism.
when armed hostilities closed las;
November, the miners found them
selves in the paradoxical position
ing used to further enrich the own
ers of coal mines and merchants deal
ing in coal by the immediate reduc-
tion in the mining of the coal. OF
course, the mine owners readily con-
ceived that an over abundance Of
mined coal would seriously disturb
the high prices of coal and endanger
their large margin of profits.
"On the other hand the miners
found that with the constantly rising
cost of necessities Of life and with
their income reduced over so per cent
because of idleness that they had
reached the limit of human endur-
ance. Orderly and improved process
es were invoked to negotiate a new
understanding with the mine owners
and which would enable the miners to
work at least five days during each
week throughout the entire year and
allow them a wage sufficient to enable
them to live in decency and free from
many of the pressing uncertainties of
life. D.
'In attempting to negotiate this un-
derstanding and relation the miners
found that their plea for continuous
employment would destroy the miners
arrangement to curtail the mining of
coal so as to continue exploiting the
public with high and exorbitant prices.
The mine owners very cleverly met
the issue by appearing willing and anx-
ious to negotiate, but only IL the min
ers would first throw aside the only
power at their command to gain a res
pectful hearing and fair consideration
the discussion to strike whenever
it was demonstrated fair dealings did
not pevail.
We are faced with coal strike Of
vast magnitude. The government now
proposes to intervene because Of a
possible coal shortage. Apparently
the government is not concerned with
the manipulation by, the mine own
ers which has made for present coal
shortage and undue unemployment of
the miners for the past eleven months.
Instead of dealing with those respon-
lie welfare, it now proposes to punish
those who by force of circumstances
have been the victims of the coal bar
ons' explorations. The miners are
now told the war is not over, and
that all war legislation is still in
force, and If reports received here are
correct the government intends to ap-
ply existing war measures, not against
the owners of the coal mines, but
against the coal miners. The govern
ment has taken steps to enforce war
measures by an injunction and it has
restrained the officials of the United
Mine workers from councelling, aiding
or in any way assisting the members
of this organization for relief against
grievous conditions of life and en-
ployment.
1T is almost inconceivable that q
government which is proud of its par
ticiration in a great war to liberate
suppressed peoples should now un-
dertake to suppress the legitimate aims,
hopes and aspirations of group of
its own people. 1t is still more strange
that a nation which may justly be
proud Of it's Abraham Lincoln should
new reverse the application OF
the great truth he enunciated when
he said as between capital and labor,
labor should receive first and fore
most consideration.
The injunction against the United
Mine workers BODIES for i'll. An in
junction of this nature will not pre-
vent the strikc--it will not fill the
empty stomachs of the miners-it
may restrain sane leadership, but will
give added strength to unwise coun-
sci and increase bitterness and fric-
ton.
This injunction can only result in
creating new and more disturbing is
sues which may not be confined sole
ly to the miners"
These views were presented to At
torney General Palmer in a confer
encc this afternoon lasting nearly two
hours by President Gompers, Secretary
Morricon and Vice peSidentNoll of the