New-York tribune., 1919-10-30
Fight Will Be Continued.
They Assert, Until a
New Wage Contract Is
Definitely Agreed To
Disastrous Effect
On Nation Denied
Men Are Anxious to Give
Operators a ''Rap ON
Knuckles, - 1t Is Hinted
BY Theodore M. Knappen

the President, Congress, the courts.
public opinion and all else that may
seek to intervene, the bituminous coal
strike will begin on November l. The
executives of the United Mine Workers
of America after an all-day session an
avoided''
John G. Lewis. yice-president and
acting president of the United Mine
Workers of America, stood on the stage
in Odd Fellows Hall after the fateful
meeting had adjourned, half of fat
cigar in his mouth and a jaunty black
slouch hat squarely on his head, and in
carefully measured words told the
newspaper men he had not word to
add to the statement the convention
had adopted after many hours of de-
liberation over the dotting of is and
the crossing Of t's--a statement
which made it plain that the strike,
which will put at least 100000 soft
coal miners out of work and the whole
country out of business if it continues
Der l and last until the operators and
the miners have adopted a new wage
scale,
Even Surrender Futile
Even if the operators were to sur
render their position tomorrow and
agree to meet the miners in negotia-
tion the strike would come off just
the same and would continue until a
new scale was adopted, which means
until such new scale would be negoti-
ated and approved by new convention
of the United Mine Workers.
Although the gathering made note
of the fact that no copy Of the Presi-
dents statement had been sent Off
cally to the miners officers the state
ment summarizing the position of the
miners declares the Presidents pro-
nunciamento received the "most pro
found consideration" but that "a can
vass of the situation shows that 8
strike of bituminous miners cannot be
avoided" and concludes with these
words, "Conscious of the grave re-
sponsibility resting upon the repre-
sentatlves of the coal miners, we have
no other alternative than to carry
out the instructions of the United
Mine Workers convention. The issue
has been made and it must be settled
upon the field of industrial battle.
The responsibility rests entirely and
squarely upon the coal barons alone"
Ellis Sear,es, editor Of "The United
Mine Workers Journal" summarized
the issue thus: THE miners have
been ready at all times since Septem-
Der 23 to sit down with the operators
and negotiate new agreement The
various points of the proposed agree
ment adopted by the convention did
not constitute an ultimatum except as
to the time limit Of November /. The
substantive points of the demands
we're open to discussion and alteration
There was ample time for that pur-
pose. too. between September % and
November /, if the operators had
utilized it,
Short Strike Predicted
"rhe fact is that the operators do
not want to make a new agreement.
They want the present one to continue
as long as possible, because with old
wages and new prices they are making
dollar or two more ton than they,
will be able to in the future. The
strike Will not last long. 1t viii SIM
ply hasten the operators to the point
of negotiation. When the strike be-
gins their demand that it be post
poned will be ancient history and a
new situation will be created. The
operators will negotiate sooner or
later"
Mr.. Searles said the meeting of the
operators scale committee for the
central competitive field, which is to
be held in Cleveland Friday, could not
possibly have any bearing on the in
ltlat;on of the strike.
Even action b. the executive of the
workers, Searles said could not stop
the strike now before new scale had
been agreed upon. Hundreds of tele-
grams have come TO President Lewis
since President Wilson's message. de-
manding that the strike proceed The
miners are determined to give the
operators the disciplning Of at least
short strike. He also explained chat
no possib Federal action, executive
or judicial, could stop the strike, as
1t would be quite impossible to arrest
or restrain the 100000 individual
miners who are determined on g strike.
lt is reported here that Judge Ames.
special assistant to Attorney General
Palmer in charge Of trust prosecu-
tons, prohteering actions, etc, Will be
mere tomorrow to start the program
the Federal government may have IN
mind, but the miners leaders are Ger
tam that nothing he car do-even the
Causing of their arrest--can stop The
strike
Personnel Of Conference
The meeting which determined that
the ration must face a general strike
OF bigNmlnOus coal minera M tha .,o