The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1919-10-24
indianapolis, Ind,
October 10, 1919.
To the Officers and Members of the
limited Mine NEnrSers Of A m el.ica


To the Officers and Members of the
United Mine Workers of America:
The Joint Conference of Operators
and Mine Workers. representing the
Central Competitive Field, which
reconVened in Philadelphia on Octo-
Der 8, came to a sine die adjourn
ment on Saturday, October II, win
out agreement.
The Mine Workers representa-
tiVes made an earnest, sincere at
tempt to negotiate a new agreement
to be effective November l, 1919.
We offered facts and data of a sub
stantial nature to support our claim
for consideration of our wage de-
mands as outlined by the Interna-
tional Convention at Cleveland. We
were met by the blunt refusal of the
operators to agree to any of our de-
mands. No proposals of any charac
ter looking toward the formation OF
n new agreement we're offered by
the operators. The only proposition
presented by them was their oft-re-
peated offer to continue the Wash
ington Wage Agreement until March
81, 1920, This proposition was re-
jected by your representatives be-
cause it meant the continuance of
an i1ltolerable situation and offered
no relief to our membership from
the present material hardships be-
ing endured by them. The arbitra- =
ry attitude of the operators, per-
sistently maintained day after day
in the joint conference, precluded
any possibility of an agreement and
the responsibility for this action
will accordingly lie with the opera
tors.
The International Convention al
{ hnT
sidering the report of the Scale
Committee, adopted the following:
We recommend that in event a
satisfactory wage agreement is not
secured for the Central Competitive
Field before November /, 1919, to
replace the one now in effect. that
the international officials be author
ICED and are hereby instructed to
call a general strike of all the btu
minous miners and mine workers
throughout the United States, the
sama to become effective November
/, 1919"
Acting in conformity with the au-
mority vested by the International
Convention, as herein quoted, the
undersigned executive officers of the
United Mine Workers of America
hereby direct al members of our or
ganization employed in and around
the mines of the hituninous coal
producing districts within the juris-
diction of our organization in the
United States 10 cease the produC-
ton of coal at midnight on Friday.
October 81, 1919. The strike thus
called will continue in full force and
effect until officially terminated by
order of the International Union.
Local Unions will permit a suffi-
cient mum ber of men to remain at
work to insure the proper care and
protection of all mining properties,
in conformity with the provisions OF
the district agreem in the sever
al fields The fullest cooperation
must be given the operator to pre-
vent injury to property, and under
no circumstances should this rule
be violated or set aside by local
unions.
There must be no suspension or
stoppage of mining oprations under
this order until midnight on Friday.
October 81. II Is essential that
there be a concert OF action among
all our membership IN carrying into
effect this most important policy.
The United Mine Workers of Amer
lea are now embarking upon the
greatests enterprise ever undertaken
In the history of the trade union
movement, and each member OF our
organization must cooperate and
assist in bringing success to our ef-
forts. Orderly procedure must be
followed throughout, You will be
guided only by the policies of your
union and the official orders eman-
ating from its officers
JOHN /. LEWIS.
WM, GREEN, President.
Secretary