Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-10-30

miners cannot be avoided" was statement issued today, by the Workers officials. Blame for u of the operators because they agreement, notwithstanding the sentatives had urged and beseecl
 The miners, the statement claims, will be exercising constitutional rights in striking. The statement also set forth that the union officials gave profound consideration to the statement of President Wilson as it appeared in the newspapers and added that no communication on that subject had been received from the federal administration.
 The statement follows:
 "The conference of United Mine Workers, composed of members of the international executive board, the scale committee of the~ central competitive district, and the district presidents, United Mine Workers of America gave most profound consid- eration to the statement of the presi- dent of the United States, which ap- peared in the public press recently, relative to the impending strike of bituminous miners set for November 1. No communication was received by the international officers of the United Mine Workers of America from either the president or any representative of the federal gov ernment.
 "A canvass of the entire situation shows that a strike of bituminous miners cannot be avoided. A regu- larly constituted convention of representatives of the United Mine Workers held at Cleveland, Septem- Der 25, ordered strike of bitumin- ous mine workers to become effective November 1, in the event a wage scale was not negotiated before that time. The highest authority in the organization has acted in this man. ner and no representatives of the organization have authority to set such action aside. The facts are that the same supreme authority which ordered the pending strike is the same as that which approved the contract which has now expired.
 Blames Operators.
 'The responsibility for the strike rests with the coal operators. They have refused to negotiate wage agreement, notwithstanding the fact the mine workers representatives have urged and beseeched them to do so. The fundamental causes which prompted the mine workers to take this drastic action are deep-seated. For two years, their wages have re- mained stationary. They appealed one year ago to the federal fuel ad ministrator, Dr. Garfield, and from him to the president of the United States for an increase in wages sufficient to meet the increased cost of .necessaries of life. Their appeal was rejected and their request re- fused. Notwithstanding this. they continued mining coal until now their contract expires. when they are de- termined that their grievances must be adjusted in a reasonably satisfac- tory manner.
 "The courts have held that the workingmen have right to strike and may quit work either singly or collectively for the purpose of re- dressing grievances and fighting wrongs. The constitution and guar antees of this free government give men the right to work or quit work individually or collectively.
 "The mine workers, therefore are but exercising the right guaranteed by the constitution and which cannot be taken away by the representa- tives of government when they quit work or when they refuse to work until their grievances are adjusted. The mine workers representatives are ready, willing and anxious to meet the coal operators for the pur- pose of negotiating an agreement and bringing about settlement of the present unhappy situation. They will respond at any time to call for such meetings and will honestly endeavor to work out wage agrea- ment upon a fair and equitable basis which agreement alone will put the mines in operation and guarantee the nation an adequate supply of coal.
 "We assert that the mine workers have no other purpose in view other than to secure a working wage agreement. All of their demands are incorporated in the wage pro- posal submitted to the coal opera tors, and each and all are subject to negotiation.
 "Conscious of the grave respon- sibility resting upon the representa- tives 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 if it must be settled upon the field of industrial battle the responsibility rests fairly and squarely upon the coal barons alone
 Members of the Pittsfield, Mass. nolica danaxtrnant uoted against inin