South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-30
]. 8. ANNOUNCES
STRIKE POSITION
Methods Adopted in Calling
Strike Illegal Say Govern
ment Experts.
Methods Adopted in Calling
Strike Illegal Say Govern
ment Experts.
~ sHTNGTnN

WASHINGTON. oct. 3O-The
position Of the government In the
impending coal strike was announced
Wednesday night as follows
There can be no doubt that the
government has the power fra the
public interest, under the law, 10
deal with the projected strike OF BIZ
luminous coal miners, without in
ringing upon the recognized right
of men in any line OF industry TO
work when they please and Quit
when they please. The Illegally OF
this strike can and viii be estab-
Iished without in any way impairing
the general right 10 strike. and the
general right TO strike is not In issue
IN any sense whatever in the pres
ent situation. This is true because
the circumstance dinerentiate this
case from the case OF any strike that
has ever taken place in the country
II does not follow that every strike
Is lawful merely because the right
10 strike is recognized TO exist. Ev-
cry case must stand upon its own
bottom and be governed by its own
facts. Therefore. when the president
said in his statement last Saturday
that such a strike in such ctrcum-
stances is not only unjustifable. but
unlawful reference was had only TO
the conditions in the impending sit
uation.
Outside Law.
The proposed strike was ordered
in a manner. for a purpose and with
"a necessary effect, which taken to-
eether put il outside the pale of the
law. After the war began the pro-
ducton Of fuel was regarded as one
Of the subjects Of such peculiar pub
>Iic Importance as TO justify a special
statutory enactment. The fuel ad-
roinistration was created 10 super
wise the subject and matters OF
wages as well as prices We're con
sidered and sanctioned by the fuel
administration. After the cessation
OF hostiIities the fuel administration
suspended certain o. its orders, but
did not terminate them and they are
subject TO reinstatement at any time
upon the presidents order and the
statute under which the orders were
made is still in force.
with this situation existing. the
convention Of United Mine Workers
at Cleveland last September, decid
ed to annul all wage contracts on
Nov. I. and took the unprecedented
step in advance of any opportunity
for consultation either with the gov
eminent or with the coal operators
70 strike on Nov. 1. unless satisfac-
tory new arrangements should be
made.
No Vote OF Workers.
without any expression from the
workers themselves, the organization
PROMULGATED a demand for a sixty
per cent increase in wages, a six
hour day and a five-day week and
authorized a strike to be effective
Nov. I. before the demands were
even presented 20 the operators The
demand for a new wage agreement
covered only a part Of the coal fields.
hut the strike order was sent broad
cast to workers in other fields
where operators had been given no
opportunity TO even consider de-
unanHs for increased wages or de-
creased hours. All this had been
done while the miners in every field.
through their right of collective
bargaining had entered into a sol
emn contract. with the operators
fixing wages and hours for a definite
period which has not yet expired.
The operators, upon the insistence of
the president. indicated their will
ingness to negotiate and arbitrate
providing the strike is deferred.
while the miners reject the presi-
dents request for arbitration as a
means Of settlement and refused TO
defer the strike.