Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1919-11-05

no representatives of the organization
have authority to set such action
aside.
The facts are that the same su-
preme authority which ordered the
pending strike is the same 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
agreement, Notwithstanding the fact
the mine workers representatives
have urged and beseeched them to do
so. The fundamental causes which
prompted the mine workers to take
this drastic action are deep-seated.
For two years their wages have re-
manned stationary. They appealed one
year ago to the federal fuel admins
traitor. Doctor Garfield and from him
to the president of the United States,
for an increase in wages sufficient to
meet the increased cost of necessaries
of life.
Their appeal was rejected and
their request refused Notwithstanding
this, they continued mining coal until
now their contract expires, when they
are determined that their grievances
must be adjusted in a reasonably sat
isfactOry manner.
1.-THE courts have held that the
wOrkingmen have a right to strike and
may quit work, either singly or col
lectively, for the purpose of redressing
grievances and righting wrongs. The
Constitution and guarantees of this
free government give men the right to
work or quit work, individually or col
lectiyely.
1.-The mine workers, therefore, are
only 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 until
their grievances are adjusted.
1.-THE mine workers representatives
are ready, willing and anxious to meet
the coal operators for the purpose of
negotiating an agreement and bringing
about a settlement of the present I'M
happy situation.
'rThey will respond at any time to
call for such a meeting and VIII non
estly endeavor to work out a wage
agreement upon a fair and equitable
basis which agreement alone will put
the mines in operation and guarantee
the nation an adequate supply OF coal.
eve assert that the mine workers
have nO-other purpose in view-Other
than to secure a working wage agree
ment All of their demands are incor-
porated in the wage proposal submit
tee to the coal operators, and each and
all are subject to negotiation.
Conscious of the grave responsible
ity resting upon the representatives OF
the coal miners, we have no other al
tentative than to carry out the instruc-
tons of the United Mine Workers con-
ventiOn.
'The issue has been made, and If 1t
must be settled upon the field OF indus
trial battle, the responsibility rests
fairly and squarely upon the coal
baronS alone"
Act Quickly at Washington.
Washington, Oct. 30.-Apprised of
the determination of the miners to
strike in defiance of the president, the
administration moved swiftly with its
plans to deal with situation fraught
with the possibilities, not only of
fuel famine. but of war between the
government and organized labor.
While members of the cabinet and
other officials were in conference per-
fecting a program to meet force with
force in the bituminous mine fields
and to invoke all possible processes OF
law to break, if not to thwart the
strike which President Wilson pro-
nounced illegal, leaders in congress
promised all the additional legislation
the administration may need to pro-
feet the people from the threatened
calamity.
Will Use Every Resource.
The strike, Attorney General Palmer
said. will be a more deadly attack
upon the life of the nation than the
assault of an invading army" and
every resource of the nation will be
brought to bear "to prevent the ma
tional disaster"
In accord with the decision that the
strike is unlawful, Attorney General
Pelmer announced that the persons re-,
sponsible for it would be prosecuted
for conspiracy.
Other steps to deal with the situa-
ton will be these;
Ample protection for miners willing
to remain on the job.
Revival of the fuel administration to
prevent boarding and profiteering.
Re-establishment of the maximum
prices which prevailed when the fuel
administration went out of existence,
which were lower than the prevailing