The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-19
BOSS" IN THREAT
Garfield Tells Miners He Will
Cut Their Pay Down.
Tries To End Strike-Kansas
Union Head Answers.

Pittsburg. Kan. April 19.-H A.
Garfield, federal fuel administrator,
today threatened to revoke the pro-
vision of the agreement between the
coal miners and the coal operators of
November, 1917, which gave the
miners AN increase of $1.4O a day,
unless President Alexander Howat or
dered the striking miners of the Cen
trail Coal & Coke Co. to return to work
while he, Howat, met with the labor
bureau and submitted the grievance
of the miners.
Howat, in answer, wired to Garfield
that he rejected with contempt the
cowardly proposition submitted" The
miners, Rowat wired. are prepared
to fight to the last ditch against the
automatic penalty clause, which he
denounces as Infamous"
What Garfield Said.
The message of Garfield to Howat
follows:
1.-THE action taken by you and Wilkinson
in calling strike and the reasons you give
are altogether unsatisfactory. As wired
you yesterday, 1 do not pass upon the
merits of the controversy by calling your
attention to the fact that you have not
agreement which still holds and which ap-
plies in your case
Furthermore, if you persist in going
contrary to the Washington agreement and
the mine workers of your district support
your proposal to disregard that agreement
and continue on strike, | shall issue a
your district that you, having repudiated
the Washington agreement, the operators
in districts IA and n are no longer bound
to pay the wage advance of s.. 40 secured
by that agreement. In order that the con-
troversy may be adjusted without resort
to stringent measures / earnestly request
that you wire me your acceptance to meet
with our bureau of labor at your earliest
opportunity, either in Washington or wher-
ever is agreeable to all parties and that
mines resume operation pending final ad-
justment of your grievances.
(Signed.) III. A. GARFIELD"
Answered by Howat.
To the Garfield message Howat re-
piled by wire as follows:
"Your message received in which you
say 1 refer grievances to you for settle
ment and order miners to return to work
pending your decision that you will notify
all miners and operators in my district
that the coal operators are no longer
obliged to pay the 81. 40 wage advance Sc
cured by the mine workers of the country
in November, 1917.
II reject with contempt the cowardly
proposition submitted by you.
This, | suppose is the miners reward
for their loyalty to our government during
the war in which our country was en-
gagged, in which our members made every
sacrifice and responded to every call in
producing coal, buying liberty bonds,
donating to the Red Cross and also giving
up their lives on the battlefield of Europe
fighting for our country.
Now we are going to fight for ourselves
to establish for the miners the principles
of democracy and justice which they fought
to obtain for others. The mine workers
have suffered under the iron heel of OPP
preston for the past eighteen months
under the infamous automatic penalty
clause.
I'VE don't propose, however, to submit to
the word of dictator any longer.
II, therefore, desire to say that, as far
as l am concerned, the strike In this dis
trict will continue until the operators make
satisfactory settlement to the miners in
this district, also in district p.
I'VE are prepared for any emergency and
intend to fight to the last ditch.
(Signed) ALEXANDER HOWAT."