The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-13

ATTORNEY GENERAL
PALMER is GRATIFIED
Mine Officials Acted Wisely and
Periodically Says the Attor-
ney General

Indianpolis Dec .lo.-The coal min
ers' strike is ended.
With but one dissenting vote the
general committee Of the United Mine
Workers of America in session mere
this afternoon voted to accept Presi-
dent Wilson's proposal for immediate
return 10 work pending final settle
ncnt Of their wage contfoverS:! with
operators by commission to be ap-
pointed by him.
Telegrams mere sent out tonight to
the four thousand locals Of the union
by international officials OF the mine
workers instructinS the men to return
to mork immediately. Full instruc-
tions with regard to the agreement
will be sent out tomorrow morning.
Operators tonight predicted full re-
sumption of operations Friday and
shipment Of coal from the mines be-
ginning Monday morning.
Miners. operators and government
officials alike were highly srarified
over the settlement tonight and al
sides Appeared confident Of final sat
isfactory settlement Of the fight by
the COMMISSION.
The action today ends tieup Of
the coal industry OF more than FIVE
weeks duration and one which was
more far reaching in its effects than
any other m the history of the coun-
try. AS result Of the strike the
country was fast approaching a COM
plete shutdown of industry and wide
spread suffering among its 100000
900 inhabitants.
The decision Of the miners came af-
ter many hours OF debate. in which
the radical element in the general
committee made incendiary speeches
against operators and others inter-
ested in settlement OF the strike and
for a time threatened to defeat ef-
forts to settle. the strike at this time.
The conservative clement. led by
Acting President John L. Lewis and
ecretary-Treasur William Green
gained control of the situation this
! morning and succeeded in putting
down practically all opposition by the
| time the question came to a vote.
One concession was made TO the
| radicals. The convention agreed to
the calling of a general convention OF
the miners az a future date. AT which
time the action of. and reasons for the
general committee will be fully eX-
planned. TIE opponents Of accept
ance Of the presidents plan made their
fight principally on the theory that
only a general co vention Of the mine
workers had power to call off the
strike.
Members of the general committee
tonight steadfastly refused to make
public the name OF the delegate who
cast the one dissenting vote.
Two statements were given out fol-
lowing adjournment of the conference
bv Attorney General A. Mitchell Pal
,ner. who first submitted the presl-
dents proposal TO Acting President
Lewis and Secretary-Treasurer Green
at a conference in Washington last
Saturday and came 10 indianapolis
Monday to await the outcome OF cor
sidcration of the plan by the miners.
general committee.
Mr. Palmer's first statement .eX-
pressed rs qualification at the de-
cison of the United Mine Workers
and commended Mr.. Lewis and MI
Green for their wise and patriotic
action The statement follows:
The coal strike is settled as the
government wanted it settled. When
Messrs Lewis and Green came 20 see
ne Saturday, restated what the gov
ernment's position had been from the
beginning and insisted on their ac-
quiescence.
"The,, finally agreed to II. They
have now persuaded the officers OF
their organization that the situation
calls for compliance with The court
order and the governments Wlsiles'
and T am certain that all the miners
in the country will cheerfully ac-
o,,iesce in the decision Of their Lead
crs. ! desire u publicly commend the
wise and patriotic action of MI. Lew
| *. Mr.. Green and their associates.
am. of course. sratiiied at the out
come. which is one the entire country
will approve. Mining will be fully re-
si1ucd ut once. the danger of distress
and suffering during the winter Is
nasscd. the authority Of the govern
,nent has been recognized and uphelo.
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