Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1919-10-30
Demands That Coal Miner Chiefs
Rescind Order for~ Strike
80: Called for Nov. !.
'CAlISlI LEGAL WRONG
Says Law VIII Be Enforced and Means
Found to Protect Interests Of Ma
ton in Emergeney--intirat
Use Of War Power.

Washington, Oct 81. - Preside nt
Wilson has issued a formal statement
with the approval OF the full member.
ship OF his cabinet, declaring the pro.
jected strike Of bituminous coal min.
ers under present circumstances mot
only Vjustifable, 1t Is unlawful"
The statement called upon officers OF
local Hniosfs' TO recall orders for the
strike and added:
II can do nothing less than TO say
that the law will lie enforced and
means will be found 10 protect the
interests OF the nation in any emer.
gency that may arise out OF this un.
happy business"
Wilson's Statement.
Among other things the president q
statement says: ,.
ION Sept. %. 1919, the convention
OF the United Mine Workers. OF Amer.
lea, at Cleveland, Ohio, adopted a pro-
posal declaring that all contracts In
the bitnminous field shall be declared
as having automatically expired Nov.
!, 1919. and making various demands,
including a 60 per cent increase in
wages and the adoption of six.hour
work day and a five-day week. and
providing that In the event salts.
factory wage agreement should not be
field before Nov. l, 1919. the national
officers should be authorized and in.
structed to call general strike of all
bitumihous miners and mine workers
throughout the United States effective
Nov. |. 1919.
Pursuant to these instructions the
officers OF the organization have IL,
sued a call to make the strike effec.
tive Nov. /. This Is one Of the gray.
est steps ever proposed In this coun'
try, affecting the economic welfare and
the domestic comfort and health OF the
people. II Is proposed to abrogate an
agreement as to wages which was
made with the sanction OF the United
States Fuel administration and which
was to run during the continuance OF
the war. but not beyond April 1. 1920
In the circumstances | solemnly re
quest both the national and the local
officers and also the individual mem
oers Of the United Mine Workers OF
America to recall all orders looking tC
strike Oh Nov and to take what
ever steps may be necessary TO pre-
vent any stoppage Of work.
II Ia time for plain speaking. These
matters with which we now deal touch
not only the welfare Of class. but vital
ly concern the wellbeing. the comfor,
and the very life of all the people.
feel IL is my duty In the public inter
eat to declare that any attempt to car
~ out the purpose OF this strike and
thus to paralyze the industry OF the
country with the consequent suffering
and distress OF all our people. must
be considered a grave moral and legal
wrong against the government and the
people OF the United States. can dc
nothing else than to say that the Law
will be enforced and the means will
be found TO protect the interests OF the
al to investigate all the facts with q
view to aiding In the earliest possible
orderly settlement OF the question a,
issue between the coal operators and
the coal miners to the end that the
just rights, not only OF those inter
ests. but also Of the general public
may be fully protected"