The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-30
GAN'T SIlP Strike
Continued from page onel

national officers Of the United Mine
I Workers Of America from ether the
President or any representative OF the
Federal government.
"A canvass Of the entire situation
shows that a strike Of bituminous min
ers cannot be avoided, A regularly
constituted convention Of represents
tives Of the United Mine Workers held
at Cleveland on September Is ordered
strike OF bituminous coal workers.
to become effective November /, IN
the event wage scale was not negos
tiated before that time The highes
authority In the organization hl3 acted
in this matter and no representa- tive
Of the organization have authority 10
Eset such action aside. The facts are
that the same supreme authority which
ordered the pending strike Is the sam
as that which approved the contract
which has now expired.
"The responsibility for the strike
rests With the coal operators. They
have refused TO negotiate wage agrees
ment, Notwithstanding the fact that
the mine workers. representa-
have urged and beeseeehed them to
do so. The fundamental causes which
prompted the mine workers to take
this drastic action are deepseated. For
two years their wages have remained
stationery. They appealed one year
ago to the Federal Fuel Administra-
ton, DR.. Garfield, and from him TO
the President of the United States Tor
an increase In wages sufficient to meeL
the increased cost Of the necesSaFies
Of life. Their appeal was rejected
and their request refused. NotWith-
standing this, they continued mining
coal, uitil now their contract expires
when they are determined that their
grievances must be adjusted On, 9 rea-
sonably satisfactory manner.
'sThe courts have held thattheWork
tngmen have right to strike and may
quit work, either singly or collective
", for the purpose Of redres1ng grew
ances and righttng wrongs. The Con
stitu4ion and guarantees ofIthfs eFO0
government give men the right to
work or quit work individually or col
lecttvely.
"HThe mine workeS therefore ,are
but exercising the right guaranteed By
the Constitution and which cannot be
taken away by the representatives OF
Government when they quit work or
when they refuse to work tntfl their
grievances are adjusted. The mine
workers representatives are ready,
willing and anxious to meet the coal
operators for the purpose OF regotiat-
ing an agreement and bringing about
a settlement OF the present unhappy
situStion. They will respond at any
time to call for such meeting and
will honestly endeavor to work out
wage agreement upon fair and equit
able basis, which agreement alone, will
put the mines in operation and guar
antee the nation an adequate supply Of
coal. We assert that the mine work
ers have no other purpose in view
other than to secure a working wage
agreement. All of their demands are
incorporated in the wage proposals
submitted to the coal operators and
each and all are subject to negotia-
tions. ~,
Conscious Of the grave responsible
ity resting upon the representatives
Of the coal miners, we have no other
alternative than to carry out the In
istructions Of the United Mine Workers
convention. The issue has been made
and Il it must be settled upon the
fields Of industrial battle, the respon
sibility rests fairly and squarely with
the coal barons alone" ~