Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-10-31
MINERS Reject
WILSON'S PLEA
rive Hundred thousand Men Are
to Strike November !,
Says Leader.
PRESIDENTS APPEAL FAILS
Jshn L. Lewis. President Of the United
Mine Workers. Says Strike Order
stands-coai Operators Ae-
eept Arbitration Offer.

Washington, Oct. 2T.-Efforts of
secretary Wilson to avert a strike of
coal miners In the central competi-
tive fields failed. the miners rejecting
n proposal from President Wilson that
the controversies be arbitrated.
The operators previously had ac-
cspted the presidents proposal. After
the rejection by the miners the con-
ference of the two scale committees
here was adjourned with every pros
pect that the strike would occur No
vember 1, as called.
John L. Lewis. president of the
United Mine Workers, announced that
the strike order stood and that half
a million soft coal miners would quit
work November 1. Official notice
that mediation efforts had failed will
be sent Mt once to all districts, he
stated.
The operators accepted the pres
ident's offer in toto" Thomas I.
Brewster. head Of the Coal Operators
association. said.
The presidents appeal to the min
ers read:
7 have been watching with deep
and sincere interest your efforts to
bring about just settlement of the diff
ferences between the operators and
the coal miners in the bituminous
coal fields Of the country.
1T is to be hoped that the good judg-
ment that has been exercised by both
operators and miners in years gone
by in the adjustment of their differ
ences win again prevail in the present
crisis.
~All organized society is depending
upon the maintenance of the fuel sup
ply for the continuance of its exist
ence. The government has appealed
with success TO other classes of work
ers TO postpone similar questions un-
tf a reasonable adjustment could be
arrived at.
sWith the parties Of the contro-
lversy rests the responsibility Of seeing
that the fuel supply Of the nation is
maintained. At this time, when the
world is In need OF more supplies, II
would be a cruel neglect of our high
duty to humanity to fail them.
II have read with interest the sug-
aestion made by you that the wage
scale committees Of the operators and
miners go into conference without res
ervation for the purpose Of negotiat-
ing an agreement as though no de-
mands had been made or rejected
having due regard to the interests of
their respective groups. am in ac.
cord with that suggestion.
-NO body OF men knows better the
details. intricacies and technicalities
Of mining than do the miners and op
erators. No body Of men can work
out the details of the wage scale OF
a more equitable basis. Their judg
ment would undoubtedly be based upon
sum total of knowledge OF the in.
dustry.
"whatever their differences may be
no matter how widely divergent theil
viewpoints may be from each other
n Is a duty which they owe society
10 make an earnest effort to negoti
ate those differences and to keep the
mines Of our country in opera
tiOn.
"After all. the public interest in thil
vital matter is the paramount consid
eration OF the government and admits
Of no other action than that of con
sIderation Of a peaceful settlement o.
the matter as suggested by you.
IF for any reason the mi1ers anC
operators fail to come to mutual un
derstandIng the interests Of the publi
are Of such vital Importance in con
nection with the production OF coa
that It is incumbent upon them to re
fer the matter In dispute to a boar
OF arbitration for determination an
to continue the operation Of the mine
pending the decision Of the board"