The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-27
White House, Washington, Oct y, IT
a STATEMENT BY THE PlSESlDEiVl

~ etsber am ~ 81 1918 the convention the United Mine
S M0s OIL to the bitumnous declared as having
automatically expired Nov l. 1919 ana ma S of six
bonT day and and fveay and providing that IN ae
event sd as before November 1918 o
ag should be authorized and instructed to call genera %
al bitumnogs miners and m1s 1a3
to these instructions the of the organization
bava ned call to make strike effective November rms
one of the rayes proposed in this country M
economic welfare and the domestic comfort ana ~
It proposed abrogae to wages wen was s
the sanction Of the United states Lt Anri
was to during the continuance OF the war; ut no Des W
j. 1920 .-so, ~. covorDmant is MAX
inc the most earnest effort the cost of living and has P
bealed with other classes OF workers 70 =
with the cost Of living recognized that the strike woaa ps @
Sen with that supply calculated to create dsas
trous All interests would be anecea sAe 9 " @ th
Of this characer victims would not be the rich only Du e
poor and the WELL those least able to aanG
fuel supply for domestic use use It o 1yos Of oyment Of large
part workers Of the country II oua avo @
s aO Other public Utilities and tie shipping and from this
country thus preventing our giving AID to the aea WIN
The country is with this prospect at time when
the war Itself is st fact when world is still in suspense as to
negotiations for peace still being transported
their Of transport Is IN urgent heeo
From angle the subject may be viewed II is
strike in would @ P 5e the @GIt o p
auction and distribution Of necessity life and thus indirectly to
restrict the production and distribution Of all the
strike these circumstances Is not
TS 65 prooosed has apparently been without
v pon the specific proposition the individual members OF the
United Mine workers Of throughout United States an
almost Unprecedented proceeding cannot believe that any
ay American worker its protection the taxing OF TINS
traordnary convinced that when the ana
are considered fundamental attack which is Wrong
both morally and legally upon the rights of society and upon the
welfare of our country convinced that the Individual mem
hers of the United would Yote upon u conue
alton in favor of strike under these conditions
When movement point where appears 10 nVo
practically the capacity of the country win es
tn one of the necessities of daily domestic and industrial
life is asserted in the nave
stated and at calculated to Involve tne
mm of danger the welfare this critical hour OF our coun
W life the public the paramount
In these solemny request both the ana
tbe Ioca officers and individual members OF the united MINE
workers of America recall all orders looking to strike on NO
ember l. and to take steps be necessary to prevent
any stoppage Of work.
II is speaking These matters With which we we
NOW deal touch welfare class buttay concern @
ebeing the comfort the life Of all the people fee
nv duty public interest to declare that any attempt 10 carry
out tb purposes Of and thus parae the industry OF
he country suffering and distress OF all our
people must be moral and legal wrong against
he people of the United States can do not
Ing less than say that the law will be enforced and means VIII
he found protect the interests OF the nation In any emergency
that may out Of this unhappy business
express opinion the merits Of the CONTROVERSY have
already suggested which settlement may be reached and
hold myself in readiness the request of either both sides to
appoint at tribunal to investigate all the facts with view TO
Sdng in the possible orderly settlement Of the questions
at issue between operators and the coal miners to the END
rights not only OF tnoe ntees out 9so 0i e gem
eral public, may be fully protected