The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-10-31
|Fu|s MAKES DIRECT ATTACK
On THE PRESIDENT IN STATEMENT

INDIANAPOLIS. Oct. 30.--A direct
attack upon President Wilson's course in
the strike situation as the climax of
long series Of attempted usurnations OF
executive power" was made today by J..
L. Lewis, acting president of the exec
utlve board of the United Mine Workers
Of America. The attack came in a long
telegram TO Secretary OF Labor wilson
replying t. q message from him dclF-
cred TO the conference here yesterday OF
some four score officials and leaders Of
the Union.
The telegram constituted the first cN-
change Of views between tho aGminIStr;I-
ton and the union. While tho telegram
from Secretary Wilson reached hero
Yesterday tn" reply was not completed
until today when il was submitted to the
executive board by President Lewis. II
WAS announced tho reply was approved
by unanimous vote. Union headquarters
refused Ia give out the Srcrctary's mes
sage. saying that its publication was
something for the sender 10 approve.
Tho reply indicated tha: tn" Secretary
offered 10 call a conference of tho miners
and employers which offer was accepted
in the following language:
I'VE shall hold ourselves in readiness
to attend any joint conference which
may be arranged by you upon fair basis
and stand ready 70 rcconvcne the inter
national convention Of our organization
whenever our scale committee has re-
ccivcd an honorable proposition for PFC
scntation to such convention"
Tho full telegram TO Secretary Wilson
follows:
Your telegram sth instant was real
by men to the assembled conference Of
members Of our international executive
board, seal" eummittc" Of central com
petitivr field and presidents OF our var
our districts yesterday. On behalf Of
conference | am authorized TO maxi
you this reply:
Scale committee representing United
Mine Workers convened with operators
Of central competitive field at Buffalo.
September "jth, and presented to coal
operators the wage demands as 1ormu-
lated by our International convention
which was the roughly representative OF
the views Of our membership. Operators
declined to consider the merits Of our
demands and refused to negotiate on a
basis which would b" productive Of an
results. After one week adjournment
was taken to rcconvcne in Philadelphia
October 9th and joint session OF thrc"
days was held in that icty. Miners
representatives made every effort 10 nc
go;iatr agreement but We're met by I'M
compromising refusal Of coal operators
to consider merits Of our position.
At that time no STRIKE order was IN
effect and none would have boon issued
had there been any constructive suCG"S-
tions Of q competent natur" offered by
coal operators. Miners left Philadcl-
phia conference with deepest reluctance
and heavy hearts. Later on when W.
were called into conference by yourself
at Washington day by day We reiterated
We were anxious and willing TO so int"
joint negotiations without reservation
having in mind only interests OF our
people for the purpose OF negotiating
wage agreement which would avert a
strike in bituminous industry.
our positions remains the same to-
day We shall hold ourselves in r"adi-
ness to attend any JOINT conference
which may be arranged by you. upon
fair basis and stand ready to rcconvcn
international convention of our organtIa-
ton Whenever your scale committee has
received cav0rabl" proposition for pre-
senlation to such convention. Kermit
me TO say 10 you, sir. the unprcc"ndent-
cd and unWarrant"d action of cabinet
and President OF the United States in
issuing statement of Saturday night has
done more to prevent satisfactory
settlement of impending strike and
working out wage agreement tEan any
other element which has entered mt
situation. The Presidents statement
IS Il tierccly partisan document because
i, attacks the intention Of the United
Mine Workers without even suggesting
that mine operators may have brought
about this unhappy situation anu iurlh"F
because threat is made TO exercise 1ull
force Of government 10 prevent Sluppaku
of work without any c0rr"Sn"nd'nh
throat to exert full force OF government
To enforce far working conditions ana
n fair living wage.
1T is indeed q sad commentary upon
principles OF square dealing when IN"
president of the United States and his
caDiucL by unanimous vote ally them
selves with sinister financial interests
which seek to deny JuStic" TO labor and
prcclpitatc our country into Industrial
turmoil. The president states 'Thr
mine workers projected StrIk" is not
only unjuSliiiabIc. but unlawful lie
states further 1t IS wrong both morally
and legally. In other words the pres
ldcut says it is a crime for the miners
10 strike and threatens punishment for
the crime.
May | point out TO you that under
laws of the United States, beyond any
Amendment or ahr"EatiUn II
is not a crime 10 strike: II cannot b"
made a crime to StrIk" and that an in
dividual cannot be punished for striking
us for the commission Of Il crime.
The president Of the United states
is the servant and not master nC III"
constitution. The constitution is the
supreme law Of tho land. In IN" inter
probation and application OF tn" c"nsti-
tuition the decisions "f the supreme
court are final authority.
THE presidents stat cm"nt OF October
@5th. 1919. threatens invasion Of "uuStl-
tutIunau rights Of American citizens. 1t
is the climax Of a long series Of at
tempted uSurpatiun Of executive power.
THE presidential settlement ann"ur"-
ed as It's excuses for threatening InvaS-
ion Of constitutional rights that ia" war
itself Is still fact Two days later.
however, in a veto message IL congress,
the president refused 10 approx" "f en-
torccmcnt Of an act was passed by rca-