Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-27
ORGANIZED MINERS a
CLAIM THEY WANT u
s. TO PREVENT CLASH
Continued from. FRS, Pase.ss

es.al April iss,o. ~ |, ) Re Si 'e,s4 otthe
Situation.
demanded by the miners 10 subject to
negotiation. as are are ell demands OF
the men," but add ed that the. situation
was in status quo"
He said he came home to rest a day
before going to indianapolis: where
tive board Of the United Mine Work
err, of America has been called for
next Wednesday. At that meeting,
called primarily to formulate details
OF the strike, Mr., Lewis said q reply to
President Wilson's statement regard
,ingthe proposed walkout in all proba-
biiity would be made.
Full cooperation of the state of H.
'linois with President Wilson in his
announced stand against the proposed
strike Of the miners MAS pledgeA by
Gov. Frank o. Lowden, in statement
a ~ . !.
Criticises Coal Operators.
BLOOMINGTON. ILL.,. October 81
Mr.. Lewis last night said:
fsI am an American. free born. with
all the pride Of my heritage I love
my country with it's institutions and
traditions. With Abraham Lincoln.
thank God that we have country
where men may strike nay the
mower of my government never be
used to throttle and crush the EFFORTS
q the toilers to improve their ma
terial welfare and elevate the
stai,dard of their citizenship"
When asked to make q statement
on the right OF the miners to strik
November 1, in the face OF the critical
conditions he said:
..The coal operators have not offered
n single constructive suggestion, de-
siryied to avert this catastrophe. All
throughout the negotiations at But.
later at Washington. the miners walt
ed 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 re-enter
negotiations with coal operators with
oufEreservation to conclude the max.
inr-,of an agreement forthwith, The
OTTER that we made was repeatedly
declined. The responsibility for the
stoppage of work in cthegn&fMn isrgnA
coal districts must necessarily lie Win
thelcoal operators"
Mr.. Lewis was asked. what answer
he Had to make to the contention OF
Hss.epsraters that the contract l mao ..
Our contract read that It was to
ce1tinue in effect during the period
until the war ended and not o1ie1-
coed March 81, 1920" he replied.
1.-THE war is over. Our soldiers
have returned. All the government
war agencies are disbanded. A Ger
man vessel Of war is even now head =
ing for New York. upon peace mis-
sion. In substance. form and reality
our. contract has expired.
':Well. now we are willing. to stand
on the merit Of our PROPOSAL This
60 per cent increase Is subject to ne
United Coal Miners, but they win
not even negotiate.
During the past twelve months the
miners Of the United States have av.
eraged only $75 q month, or $500 for
the entire period. The men have
worked on an average Of less than
three days q week since the armis-
ticet was signed. Men with families
cannot live on this amount. Children
In mining camps are undernourished.
This Is q matter sof ilif4H and death to
theswomen and children Of the miners'
families as well as IL Is to the pub
s"Our aim Is to make a shorter work
ing period and to distribute the work
over more days during the year. The
miners in England have q seven hour
day. from bank to bank, which means
from the time they leave the surface
Of the ground until they get back.
Miners In the United States have an
eight hour day, but that doesn't count
until they get to the face of the
local They are In reality working
mime and n half hours . day"