Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-10-31
CASE OF THE MINERS
They Put Blame for Proposed Strike
on Operators.


That strike of bituminous miners
cannot be, avoided" was the out
standing conclusion of a statement
issued last Wednesday by the con-
ference of United Mine Workers Of
flcials at indianapolis. Blame fol
the situation was laid at the feet oi
the operators. because they had re-
fused to- negotiate a wage agreement
notwithstanding the fact the mine
workers representatives had urged
and beseeched them to do So"
The miners. the statement claims
will be exercising, constitutional rights
In striking. The statement also sci
forth that the union officials gave pro-
found, consideration to the statemen,
of President Wilson as 1t appeared In
the newspapers and added that nc
communication on the subject had
been received from the federal ad-
ministration.
The statement follows:
Text Of Statement.
"The conference of United Mine
Workers. composed of members of the
international 3 executive board, the
scale committee Of the central compe-
titive district and the district presi-
dents, United Nine Workers Of Aneri.
ca, gave most profound consideration
to the statement of the president OF
the United States, which appeared IN
the public press recently, relative tc
the impending strike Of bituminous
miners set for November /. No COM
munication was received by the in
ternatlonsl officers of the United Mine
Workers of America from either the
president or any representative OF the
federal government. az =.
"a canvass Of the entire situation
shows that a strike =, of bituminous
miners cannot be avoided. A regular
ly constituted convention Of represen-
tatives of United Mine Workers held
at Cleveland, O., on September rs, or
dered a strike of bituminous workers
to become effective November /, Il
wage scale was not negotiated before
that time. The highest authority Of
the organization has acted In this
manner, and no representatives Of the
Organization has authority to set sucf
action aside. The facts are that the
same supreme authority which order.
ed the pending strike is the same a.
that which approved the contract
which has now expired. 81 .5s f.
"The responsibility for the strike
rests with the coal operators. The.
have refused to negotiate wage
agreement, notwithstanding the fac
the mine workers Representatives hav,
urged and beseeched them to do so
| The fundamental cause which prompt
ed the mine workers to take thi.
drastic action are deep seated,
For two years their wages have re
NAMED stationary. They appeale
one year ago to the federal fuel ad.
4 ministrator, or DR.. Garfield. and from
him to the president of the Unite.
States, for an increase in wages suf
ficient to meet the increase in tn,
cost Of the necessaries of life. Thei
appeal was rejected and their, reques
refused. Notwithstanding this, the.
continued mining coal until now thei
contract expires, when they are de-
termined that their grievances mus
be adjusted in a reasonably satisfac,
tory manner.
The courts have held that. tn,
working men have a right to strfk'
and may quit work either singly o.
collectively for the purpose Of re
! wrongs. The constitution and guar
antees of this free government Civ
men the right to work or quit wcrl
individually or collectively.
THE mine workers therefore ar,
but exercising the right guaranteed
by the constitution and which canno
be taken away by the representative
of the government, when they qui
work. or when they refuse to worl
until their grievances are adjusted
The mine workers representative
are ready, willing and anxious to NEE
the coal operators for the purpose o
negotiating an agreement and bring
ing about settlement of the presen
unhappy situation. They will respont
at any time to call for such a meeting
and will honestly endeavor to worl
out a wage agreement upon a fai
and equitable basis, which agreement
alone will put the mines In operation
and guarantee the nation an ade.
quate supply of coal. We assert thai
the mine workers have no other pur.
pose in view-other than to secure q
working wage agreement. All o
their demands are incorporated in the
wage proposal submitted to the Goa
operators, and each and all are sub.
ject to negotiation.
Conscious of the grave responsi.
bility 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. The issue has been
made, and if 1t must be settled upoI
the field Of industrial battle. the re-
sponsibility rests fairly and squarely
upon the coal barons alone"