The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-11-06
MINERS REFUSE TO
YIELD; j. S. READY
Union Officials in Secret Session
Disregard Wilson's Plea.
QUIT FRIDAY At MIDNIGHT
High Executive Council Decides That
wslkout Cannot Be Avoided Now
Government Moves to Pre-
vent a Coal Famine.

indianapolis. Ind. Oct 3I.-The
high executive council OF the United
Mine Workers of America In session
here refused TO rcscind the strike call
Tor Friday nj midnight. despite the
warning Of the president and the na.
tons imperative need OF fuel.
"A canvass of the entire situation
shows that strike OF bi'uminous
miners cannot be avoided" was the
way the formal message from the
council TO the public put H.
The statement. In part. follows:
The conference of United Mine
WORKERS composed OF members Of
the International executive board. the
scale committee Of the central com.
petitive district and the district pres
ldent United Mine Workers of Amer
lea. gave most profound considera.
ton 81 the statement OF the president
OF the United States. which appeared
In the public press recently. relative
to the impending strike OF bltuminous
miners. set for November
no OHicial message.
NO communication was received
by the International officers Of the
United Mine Workers of Americn from
either the president or any represent.
alive OF the federal government
"A canvass Of the entire situation
shows that n strike OF bltumlnous
miners cannot be avoided.
"A regularly constituted convention
Of representatives Of the United Mine
Workers. held NJ Cleveland. O. on
September %. ordered strike Of bi-
luminous mine workers. TO become ef-
fective Novembe' l. In the event n
wnge scale was not negotiated before
that time.
The highest authority In the or
has acted In this matter.
and no representatives Of the organ
lzatiOn have authority 10 set such nc
ton aside.
The facts are that the same su-
preme authority which ordered the
pending strike il the same as that
which approved the contract which
has now expired. -
Operators Blamed.
"The responsibility for tn strike
tests with the coal operators. They
have refused 10 negotiate n wage
agreement. Notwithstanding the fact
he mine workers representative.
nave urged and beseeched them 10 do
IN. The fundamental causes which
prompted III. mine workers 10 take
his drastic action ere deep seated.
The courts have held that the work
ngnen have a right 10 strike and may
Iuit work either singly or collectively
or the purpose OF redresslng grew
noes and Fighting wrongs The Con
titution and guarantees Of this free
overnment give men the right TO work
r quit work individually or collec
lively.
The mine workers therefore. are
ut exercising the right guaranteed
y the Constitution and which cannot
g taken away by the representatives
{ government when they quit work OF
hen they refuse 10 work until their
rievances are adjusted.
Conscious OF the grave RESPONSE
ility resting upon the representatives
the coal miners. we have no other
lternative than 10 carry out the In
iructions OF the United Mine Work
RS convention.
THE issue has been made. and 10
must be settled upon the field OF
battle the responsibility
.sts fairly and squarely upon the
pal barons alone"
Government Moves Swiftly.
Washington. Oct 30.-Apprised of
le determination OF the miners TO
rike In defiance Of the president, the
moved swiftly with Its
ans TO deal with a situation fraught
it'll the possibilities, not Gully OF
Iel famine. but OF war between the
'yernment and organized labor.
While members Of the cabinet and
her officials were In conference per-
citing program 10 meet force with
rec In the bltumlnous mine fields and
invoke all possible processes OF Inv
break. II not To thwart the strike
hlch President Wilson pronounced n.
gal. leaders In congress promised all
g additional legislation the admins.
alton may need to protect the people
Dl1 the Threatened calamity.
The strike. Attorney General Palmer
ID. win be a more deadly attack upon
p lie Of the milton than the assault
an invading army" and every re-
URGE of the nation will be brought 10
AR 80 prevent the national disaster"
In accord with the decision that the
ike is unlawful, Attorney General
liner announced that the persons re.
Dnsible for II would be prosecuted