South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-26

UWCALLED FOR
DEFIANT WIS
Tells Miners in
Statement World
War is Still on

WAsHINGTON. oct 25.-The
presidents statement TO the miners
follows:
ION Sept Is. 1919. the conven-
ton Of the United Mine Workers Of
America at Cleveland. Ohio. adopted
a proposal declaring that all con
tracts I'm the bituminous field shall
be declared as having automatically
expired Nov. 1. 1919, and making
various dema nds, including a 60 per
cent increase i'm vases and the
adoption of siX-hour work day
and a five-day week: and providing
that in the event a satisfactory wage
agreement should not be secured
for the central competitive field be-
fore Nov I. 1919. the national Off
GERS should be authorized and in
structed to call a general strike Of
all bituminous miners and mine
workers throughout the United
States. effective Nov. !. 1919.
Miners Issue Call.
Pursuant TO these instructions.
the officers Of the Orga nization
have issued call 10 make the
strike effective Nov. This is one
of the gravest steps ever proposed
IN this country. affecting the eco
nomic welfare and the domestic
comfort and health of the people.
II is proposed to abrogate an agree
ment as to wages which was made
with the sanction Of the United
States fuel administration and
which was to run during the con-
tinuance of the war, but not be-
yond April I. 1920.
This strike is proposed at a time
when the government is making the
most earnest effort TO reduce the
cost Of living and has appealed with
success to other classes of workers
10 postpone, similar disputes until
afforded for dealing with the cost
Of living.
VIII Cause Famine.
1T is recognized that the strike
would practically shut Of fthe coun-
try's supply Of it's principal fuel at
a time when interference with that
supply is calculated 10 create a dis
astrous fuel famine All interests
would be affected alike by strike
Of this character, and its victims
would be not the rich only but the
poor and the needy as well-those
least able TO provide in advance a
fuel supply for domestic use II
would involve the shutting down OF
countless industries and the throw
ing out OF employment OF a large
number Of the workers Of the coun-
try.
I"twould involve stopping the
, operation Of railroads. electric light
and gas plants. street railway lines
and other public utilities. and the
shipping to and from this country
thus preventing our giving aid 70
the allied countries with supplies
which they so seriously need The
1 country is confronted with this pros
pect at a time wheH the war itself
is still a fact, when the world is still
! in suspense as TO negotiations for
peace. when our troops are still be-
1 ing transported and when their
means Of transport is in urgent need
OF fuel.
Stflke dnlaWiul-
From whatever angle the subject
may be viewed, IT Is apparent that
such strife IN such circumstance
would be the most far-reaching
plan ever presented in this country
70 limit the facilities Of production
and distribution or necessity OF
lie and thus inoireclly 10 restrle.
the production and distribution on
all the necessities or lie. a strike
under these circumstance IS not
only unJusuflaole, II is unlawili
entity been taken without anv vote