The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-30
LEADERS
ISSUE TATEMEN
UNFOLDING STAND

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. oct. so.-Thst
the proposed strike Of soft coal miners
called for Friday midnight cannot now
be avoided is the outstanding conelu.
sion Of an official statement addressed
70 the AmerieBn public, issued here
last night by the conference Of the
United Mine workers officials. Blame
for the present critical situation Is laid
upon the mine operators who are
charged with refusing to negotiate q
wage agreement.
The statement reads:
The conference Of United Mine
Workers, Composed Of members Of ne
committee Of the Central Competitive
district, and the district presidents,
United Mine Workers Of America, gave
most profound consideration to the
statement Of the president Of the
United States, which appeared - ths
public press recently relative to the
impending strike Of hitunninous miners
set for Nov. /. No communication was
received by the international officers OF
the United Mine Workers Of America
from either the president or any repre-
sentative OF the federal government.
"A canvass Of the entire situation
shows that a strike Of h~itunlinous min
ers cannot he avoided. A regularly con-
Stituted convention Of Representatives
Of the United Mine Workers held AZ
| Cleveland, o., on Sept, Is ordered a
strike OF bituminous workers to be-
come effective Nov, / in the event q
wage scale was not negotiated before
that time, The highest authority in
the organization has acted In this nan
nAr and no representatives Of the or
ganiEation have authority to set such
action aside, The facts are that the
same supreme authority which ordered
the pending strike is the same as that
which approved the contract which has
now expired.
Blame Operators.
The responsibility for the strike
rests with the coal operators. They
have refused TO negotiate a wage agree
ment, notwithstanding the fact the
mine workers representatives. have
The fundamental causes which prompt
ed the mine workers to take this dras-
tic action are deep.seated. For two
years their wages have remained sta
tionary, They appealed one year ago
70 the federal fuel administrator, DR..
dent Of the United states for an in
crease in wages sufficient TO meet the
increased cost of necessaTies OF life.
Their appeal was rejected and their re-
quest refused. Notwithstanding this,
they eoptinusd mining coal until now
their contract expires, when they ara
determined that their grievances must
be adjusted IN q reasonably satisfactory
manner.
The courts have held that the work.
Ing men have 4 right to strike and
may quit work either Singly or col
laetlvely for the purpose of redrassing
grievances and Fighting wrongs, The
constitution and guarantees Of this free
government give men the right to work
| ar cUit UOTk iuniyiduaIlV mr. aallAqtiuply
The mine workers, therefore, are but
exercising the right guaranteed by the
constitution, and which cannot be TAX
en- away by the representatives OF gov
ernment, when they quit work. r when
they refuse to work until their griev,
representatives are ready, willing and
anxious to meet the coal operators for
the purpose OF negotiating an agree
ment and bringing about q settlement
Of the present unhappy situation, They
VIII respond at any time to a call for
such a meeting and will honestly en-
deavor TO work out a wage agreement
agreement alone wiz put the mines in
operation and guarantee the nation an
adequate supply of coal
w assert that the mine workers
have no other purpose in view-otheI
J than TO secure a working wage agree.
HeNt' Al ol lhelf aeiaAhas are moor
} poratod In the wage proposal submitted
} to the coal operators, and each and al
} are subject 70 negotiation.
! CONSCIOUS OF the grave RESPONSE
Z hihty resting upon the representative
: OF the coal mines, we have no othe
I alternative than to carry out the in
; structions Of the United Mine Workers
convention. The issue has been mad,
r and II II must he settled upon the fielt
I Of industrial battle, the Responsible,
rests fairly and squarely upon the Goa
I harons alone