The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-26

The President declined to enter into
the merits of the controversy between
the miners and operators, but emphati-
calIy declared "a strike, which he char
acterixed the most far reaching pro-
posal in the nations history to restrict
production and distribution of all neces-
saries of life, had apparently been
ordered without n vote of the Individual
miners concerned. For this reason,
the President served definite notice
'.thnt the law will be enforced and the
means will be found TO protect the in
terests of the nation in any emergency
that may arise out of this unhappy
BUSINESS
The Presidents statement was issued
tonight after his eaplnet had gone over
the entire situation with Secretary
Wilson of the labor department whose
efforts to bring miners and operators
together in negotiations had failed. The
cabinet, with only Secretary Lansing
detained at his home by Illness MISS
ing. met first In the morning and again
tonight Rear Admiral Grayson, the
Presidents personal physician. was
summoned to the evening session. APP
parently he agreed TO the submission OF
the matter TO his patient, for soon at
terward the cabinet meeting broke III
and the Presidents statement was Isl
sued
REVIEWS CAUSE OF STRIKE
The President In his statement re-
viewed the steps leading up TO the
STRIKE CALI including the Cleveland
convention OF the United Mine Workers
OF America one month ago, at which
the reasons for a 30-hour week and a
60 per cent increase in wages were for
muIated.
The war in itself. the President
asserted, still was fact, peace
negotiations still in suspense and
troops still being transported. He
cause of these factors and the added
consideration that victims of the
strike would be among both the
rich and the poor of the nation,
the President said the proposed
waIkout could only be considered
unlawful, and AS the nations
executive entrusted with enforce
ment OF the law. he would use the
means MT his disposal to prevent
any stoppage of work.
The services of the mediator Offered
yesterday by the President through Sec
rotary Wilson but not accepted, were
again held out, the President declaring
he held himself in readiness at the re-
quest of each or both sides TO appoint
a commission to investigate the situa-
ton, to affect an orderly settlement OF
the disputed questions with due recog-
milton of the rights of the miners, the
operators and the public.
There was no direct intimatiOn OF
what steps the cabinet had dis
cussed to prevent stoppage of work
should the Presidents solemn
warming to the miners to rescind
the strike order fail Of result.
WILLING TO NEGOTIATE
John r. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers of America. worn
out by a weeks session of scale COM
mittees had left here tonight for
Springfield. Ill.,. to take personal
charge of the strike before the Presi
dents statement was issued.
THE situation so far as the miners
are concerned Is unchanged. Lewis
said I'VE are still ready and willing
to negotiate new wage contract be-
fore November L."
He made no suggestion as to how
this ght be done in view of the fail
ure of Secretary Wilson's efforts to
that end
Senator Frelinghuysen of New Jer-
sew, chairman of the interstate com
merce committee, which investigated
the coal situation. announced that he
would not summon Lewis or other
labor leaders. 1t had been expected
Continued Page Two)
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