The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-31
WILSON is ASSAILED
NANSVER BY LEWIS
Message to Secretary Of Labor
Says President Tries to
Enforce Peonage.
STILL READY TO CONFER
Miners Leader Lays All
/ Blame Of Strike Threat to
Operators Attitude.

INDfANAPoLIs, Oct 3O.--A onect ntsaeh
upon President Wilson's course In the
coal strike situation as the "clifnax OF
long series Of attempted usurpations OF
executive power was made to-day by !
John L. Lewis. acting president. and the
executive board Of the United Mine !
Workers of America. The attack came
In long telegram to Secretary or La
Dor Wilson, replying TO message from
him delivered to the conference here yes
terday OF some fourscore officiais ana
leaders of the union.
The kilograms constituted the nrst
exchange of views between the Admints-
tration and the union. While the tele-
gram from Secretary Wilson reached
here yesterday. the reply was not COM
pleted until to-day. when It was sub
Initted to the executive board by Presi-
danf Lewis. It was announced that the
reply was approved by unanimous vote.
Union headquarters refused to give out
the Secretary's message.
The reply indicated that the secre-
tary offered to call conference OF the
miners and employers. which offer was
accepted in the following language
1--WE shall hold ourselves in readiness
to attend any joint conference which
may be arranged by you upon a fair
basis and stand ready to reconvene the
International convention Of our organi-
ration whenever our scale committee
has received an honorable proposition
for presentation to such convention"
Lewis's Message to Secretary.
The full telegram to Secretary Wilson
follows:
'Your telegram, twenty-ninth instant.
was read by me to assembled confer
ence Of Members OF our international
executive hoard. scale committee of
central competitive field and presidents
Of our various districts yesterday. On
behalf OF conference I am authorized
to make you this reply:
Scale committee representing United
Mine Workers convened with operators
Of central competitive field at Buffalo
September rs and presented to operators
the wage demands as formulated by our
International convention. which was
thoroughly representative OF the views
Of our membership. Operators declined
70 consider the merits OF our demands
and refused to negotiate on a basis
which would be productive Of any re-
suits.
AFTER one week adjournment was
taken to reconvene in Philadelphia, Oc-
tober Q, and joint session of three days
was held in that city. Miners represen-
tatives made every effort to negotiate
nising refusal of coal operators to con-
Gfder merits of our position.
-'At. that time no strike order was In
effect and none would have been issued
had there been any constructive sugges-
lions of competent nature offered by
the coal operators. Miners left the Phil.
adelphia conference with deepest re-
luctance and heavy hearts. Later OF
when we were called into conference BY
yourself at Washington. day by day W.
reiterated we were anxious and willinl
to go into joint negotiations withou
reservations, having In mind. only In
terest OF our people. for palrpose o.
Negotiating. wage. agreement which
would avert strike In bituninous indus
Wy 5;s x
e. Miners Position Unchspged. :.
"Our position remains the same 70
day. We shall hold ourselves Id readi
ness to attend any joint conferenc
which may be arranged by you. upei
fair basis and stand ready to teconven
International convention OF our organ
fxation whenever our scale commits
has received an honorable proposition
for presentation to such convention
"Permit me to say to you. sir. the un
precedcnted and unwarranted action o
Cabinet and President Of the Unite
States In issuing statement OF Saturda
last has done more to prevent satisfac
tory settlement of impending strike an
working out OF wage agreement ina
any other element which has entere
into the situation The President
statement is a fercely partisan doct
ment because 1t attacks the intention
the mine workers without even sugges
ing that mine operators may hav
brought about this unhappy situation
and further because threat 10 made
exercise full force of Government
prevent stoppags Of work without ar
corresponding threat to exert full Tor
Of Government TO enforce fair Eorstr
conditions and a living wage.
cit IL indeed a sad commentary upc
principles of square dealing when the Pres
dent of United States and his Cabin
by unanimous vote ally themselves WI
sinister financial interests which seek
deny Justice to labor and precipitats o.
country into industrial turmoil.
The President states: The mi
workers projected strike is not on
un1ustifiable, but unlawful He stat
further; IL IL wrong both morally Al
legally In other words. the Preside
says 1t is a crime for the miners
strike and threatens punishment for Z
crime.
o. Says Strike II No Crime.
MAY i point out to you that und
laws Of United States beyond any Pre-
Dental amendment or abrogation II
not a crime to strike: IL cannot
made a crime TO strike and that an
dividual cannot be punished for striki
a. for the commission of q crime.
''The President of the United Stai
IL the servant and not the master Of
CONSTITUTION. The Constitution Is
supreme law of the land. In the int
pretation and application Of the Cons
tuition the decisions OF the Supre
Court are final authority.
h THE Presidents statement OF Octol
rs, 1919, threatens invasion Of cons
tutional and inalienable rights Of Am
lean citizens. It is the climax Of a 10
series OF attempted usurpations of
ecutive power.
'sThe Presidential statement
nounced as its excuse for threatening
yasion OF constitutional rights that
war itself is stu a fact Two d
later, however, In a veto message
Congress the President refused TO
prove OF enforcement OF an act VIII
he said was passed by reason Of
emergency OF war and whose obJe
have been satisfied in the demobilizat
Of the army and navy II the Presid
was right on Monday submit. SIR. I
he was wrong on Saturday.
Calls II slavery Threat.
s-rh. n-..fAautfal .Aict thras fans