The sun., 1919-10-26

made in the Cabinet meeting this morn
ing. The authorship was not made
known. II was planned to submit this
to the President and TO nave another
meeting at o'clock this afternoon.
Grayson. Called TO Meeting.
Rear Admiral Grayson. the Presidents
physician, was opposed to laying the
matter before the President He tried
to keep everything relating to business
from him to-day. The physician ex-
plaiped that the President was resting
well and gaining strength and his dis
inclination to taking UP the subject was
due only to his desire for a day Of COM
plete rest. He was asked to come TO
the Cabinet session, however. and was
soon convinced that the statement should
20 before the President and he con-
sented. II was read to the President
lying in bed and was signed by him.
While the authorship OF the statement
was not disclosed. II was written. IL is
understood, by Secretary Glass, Attor-
ney-General Palmer and Secretary Lane
They combined in the draft and the
others who attended made suggestions
Of initial matter and changes.
Secretary 'Glass, who was spokesman
for the two meetings, handed out the
statement from the President and an
other with respect to the new Industrial
conference. After doing this he reserved
all comment and gave no details as to
preparation OF the documents or the
discussion. 1t is, known. however, that
the final draft Of the coal strike state
ment was approved and issued by the
President without hesitation when 1t
came to him with the unanimous APP
proval of his full Cabinet and of Di-
rector-General of Railroads Hines.
Contention of Operators.
Though every memper of the Cabinet
lef, all talking to Secretary Glass, and
he said nothing. there was no mistakins
the determination OF the Presidents ad-
visers. The statement is expected to
carry full weight with the mine workers
Of the country and to influence q calling
Off of the strike, but II 1t Is not called
Off the, statement permits Of no other
course than direct action" by the Gov
ernment.
The National Coal Association issued
q statement Tonight to the effect that
Wholesale COAT merchants who handle
100,000,000 tons of coal annually and
representing the sentiment in fourteen
out of fifteen coal producing centres
have gone on record as saying that they
will do every. lawful thing to prevent a
rise in coal prices in the event OF a
strike of miners
Thomas I. Brewster, chairman Of the
operators scale committee, issued the
following statement tonight relative to
the failure Of Negotiations:
'ThroushppE the negotiations. which
ended last -night with the refusal of
the mine workers to accept President
Wilson's proposal. the operators have
been deeply conscious Of their RESPONSE
bilities. and sincerely responsive to all
efforts and suggestions that might pre-
vent the threatened strike.
The miners leaders have said again
and again that nothing could stop a
general strike but unconditional ac-
ceptance of their demands. The opera
tors believe acceptance of these demands
would not only wreck the coal mining
industry but threaten a national break
down of basic industrial standards and
relationships. In the face of these de-
mands the operators therefore have
consistently stood out for the recogni-
ton of three cardinal points, the main
tenance of which they consider even
more vital to general public welfare than
to the interests Of the operators them
selves.
No Necessity FOR strike.
First. the continuation of coal pro-
duction during negotiations. The strike
order. set for November /, was issued
not after a vote of the miners them
selves. but as result Of instructions
Issuing from a convention OF United Mine
Workers of America. held in September
and before any meetings or negotiations
with theoperators committee. There is
no necessity for strike.1 Any scale of
wages agreed to by negotiation or arbi-
tration would become automatically eff
fective upon the expiration of the pres
ent contract and be retroactive I'd stfth
date in case of any delay in determina-
tion. 1t Is unjust-almost unthinkable
that the people of the United States
should be subjected to the calamity Of a
bituminous coal strike, when the same
OF production.
Second, recognition OF the existing
wage contract and its observance to its
legal termination. All authorities agree
that this contract does not legally termi-
nate until March 81, 1920. or until the
declaration of peace. should peace be
declared before that date.
Third, the operators believe that the
public Is vitality interested in the pro-
duction of sufficient coal to meet its
needs at the lowest possible cost. The
miners demand for a reduction of work.
ing time at the mines below the-standard
forty-eight hour week now in effect
would greatly reduce production and
greatly increase the cost, and conse-
Quently the prices of coal.
Presidents Words Quoted.
"Up to yesterday the operators have
expressed their willingness to negotiate
and, falling agreement to arbitrate all
the other demands made by the miners
except the three foregoing.
When 1t dnally became evident that
no progress was being made President
Wilson sent a a-thessage to the conference.
The Presidents message stated his ac-
cord with the Views OF the Secretary of
Labor In an earlier effort to bring a set
tlement and said to both operators and
miners: 1T Is a duty that they owe
society to make an earnest effort to
negotiate these differences and to keep
the mines of our country in operation
1T concluded with this sentence: If
for any reason the miners and operators
fail TO come to mutual understanding
the interests Of the public are of such
vital Importance in connection with the
production OF coal that II Is incumbent