Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-10

crease, provided the operators will pay it out of their profits, so that the price of coal would remain the same.
 "The secretary of labor. in an effort at conciliation between the parties, expressed his personal opinion in favor of larger increase. His effort at con ciliation failed. however, because the coal operators were unwilling to pay the scale he proposed unless the gov ernment would advance the price of coal to the public. and this the govern ment was unwilling to do.
 "The fuel administrator had also suggested that a tribunal be created in which the miners and operators would be equally represented to consider fur ther questions of wages and working conditions as well as profits of opera tors and proper prices for coal. I shall, of course, be glad to aid in the formation of such tribunal.
 "1 understand the operators have generally agreed to absorb an increase of IA per cent. in wages, so that the public would pay not to exceed the present price fixed by the fuel admin l istrator' and the way is opened to se- cure the coal of which the people stand in need, if the miners will resume work | on these terms pending a thorough | investigation by an. impartial comnis- sion which may readjGst both waees and prices,
 By the acceptance of such Ian. the miners are assured immediate steady employment at a substantial i'm crease in wages and are further as- surcd prompt investigation and action | upon questions which are not now set | tied to their satisfaction. | must be- lieve that with q clear understanding of these points they will promptly re- turn to work. If, nevertheless. they persist in remaining on strike, they will put themselves in an attitude of striking in order to force the govern ment to. increase the price of coal to the public, so as to give still further
 increase in wages at this time rather than allow the question of further increase in wages to be dealt with Tn a norderly manner by fairl-- consti- Ituted tribunal representing all. parties interested.
 No group of our people ~ean justify
 such a position, and the miners owe it to themselves. their families. their fellow workmeri in other industries i and to their country to return to work 'fmmediately' dpon, ar general re- | stITantion of if1inin- I shall be glad to aid in the prompt formation of such a | tribunal as I have indicated to make l further inquiries into, this whole mat ter and to review not only the reason lableness of the wages at which the miners start to work but also the rea- i sonableness of the government prices
 for coal. Such tribunal should with
 in sixty days make its report. whicf
 could be used as a basis for negotia
 ton for a wage agreement. I mus
 make it clear. however. that the gov.
 ernment cannot give its, aid to- any Esucb further investigation until there
 is a general resumption of work
 q ask every Individual miner to giv,
 his personal thought to what sav
 hope he understands fully that he vii
 be hurting his own interest and thu
 interest of his family and will bt
 throwing countless other laborino mer
 out of employment if he shall continue
 the present strike. and. further tha he will crease an unnecessary and un
 fortunate prejudice against organized
 labor which will be injurious to tn,
 best interests of workingmen every where.
 (Signed)
 WOODROW WILSON"