Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-12-21

t4 t4AoN6ho0e eAiS SSioi oA SoHiPSe' I've fields; that all new wage Isreements should be based on a sK hour work day from bank to |lnk, five days a week, the aboli- |5n of all automatic penalty claus. H; that all contracts in the oitu- Iinous field should be declared to lkpire on November 1, 1919; and Nat in the event a satisfactory Fage agreement IS not secured |lr the central competitive field More November 1, 1919, to re- ace the one now in effect, the |ternational officials be author- led to, and are hereby instructed l: call a general strike of all tuminous miners and mine work Es throughout the United States, &e same to become effective De- Ember, 1919.
 Conferences Held.
 Subsequently conferences were kld between representatives of the kerators and of the miners, at hich the miners demands were
 bmitted and declined on the part
 the operators. The officers of {e international union, United ine Workers of America, then $ued so-called strike orders to feir local unions and members, fquiring them to cease work in &e mining of bituminous coal at kdnight on Friday, October 31.
 HOn October 15, 1919, the secre- Try of labor, called a conference
 tween the operators and miners ! the bituminous mines in the cen- Rl competitive field, which con- rence also resulted in failure to bach an agreement. In a letter to &cretary Wilson, which was sub
 tted to the conference, l said: E If for any reason the miners &d operators fail to come to a Bltual understanding, the inter- ts of the public are of vital im-
 rtance in connection with the IDduction of coal that it is incum-
 Int upon them to refer the mat t in dispute to board of ar. Eration for determination and t.
 ntinue the operation of the
 mes pending the decision of the
 lard
 Subsequently, on October g,
 19, l issued a statement in which said that strike in the circum. hnces therein described, is not
 ly unjustifiable; it is unlawful
 "a added:
 N I express no opinion on the erits of the controversy. I have
 ready suggested a plan by hich a settlement may be reach. H and I hold myself in readiness, ~ the request of either or both Hes, to appoint at once tribunal H investigate all the facts, with a lsw to aiding in the earliest pos. 6ple orderly settlement of the Positions at issue between the coal 1erators and the coal miners, to 2e end, that just rights not on:y those interests, but. also of ae general public may be fully 3ptected.'
 History of Strike.
 NsDespite my earnest appeals &at the men remain at work, the
 icers of the United Mine Work B of America rejected all the Rposals for peaceful and order. E adjustment and declared that |& strike would go on.
 N Accordingly, at my direction, |h attorney general filed a bill in Ehity in the United States dis |Sct court at Indianapolis, pray EE for an injunction to restrain IS officers of the United Mine Eprkers of America from doing |ly act in furtherance of the Hike. A restraining order was E|ued by the court followed by a Hit of temporary injunction on lvember 8, 1919, in whihc the de- |ihdants were commanded to can-
 and revoke the strike orders 8sretofore issued. These strike 9ders were accordingly revoked
 q form approved by the court, Ht the men did not return to work \ sufficiently large numbers to Hing about production of coal Sywhere approaching normal.
 On December 6, 1919, I issued Y statement in which I restated He governments position, appeal \ to the miners to return to Asrk and renewed my suggestion lat upon the general resumption
 mining operations suitable 4bunal would be created for the Srpose of Investigating and ad- $ting the matters in controvers,
 Tween the operators and the 1ners. This statement was sub- Ntted to a meeting of the officers
 the international union of Uni |H Mine Workers of America lying authority to take action
 ich meeting adopted as it's act
 memorandum prepared by tn, Eforney general and approved by $, enbodying the suggestions
 ntalned in my statement of De- @nber 6. I am informed also Eat the operators have generally Freed to the plan therein outlin- & l enclose for your informa- Nh a copy of my statement of De- 3nber s, 1918, and the memo
 1dum just referred to.
 Relieve Administrator.
 There has now been a general eumption in all parts of the
 luminous coal fields sufficient to
 rrant the appointment of a