Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-27

Continued from Page one.)
scale committees squarely on the
operators.
The threats to prosecute and
incarcerate myself and associates
will neither prevent the strike nor
terminate it If 1t occurs" Mr.. Lew
is said
Tells Way to Avert Strike.
There is even yet a way in
which this strike may be avoided, ="
Mr.. Lewis said. The government
should assemble the coal operators
and use its power and influence %
secure from them for the miners
a Just consideration Of their de-
mands.
AN agreement could be reached
within three days if the coal oper-
ators would approach the question
in good faith and with open minds. -
Lewis declared the refusal Of the
operators to negotiate a new wage
agreement and their insistence that
the present contract does not ex-
pire until April /, 1920. was the
crux of the whole matter.
Get But $500 Year.
Defending the demands of the
miners for more pay, Mr.. Lewis
said in seven and a half years
mine workers had enjoyed wage
increases OF only 371z per cent.
whereas steel workers had been
given increases reaching III per
cent since 1914.
During the II months since the
signing of the armistice the aver
age wage of the bituminous niue
workers does not exceed $500 a
year, or the equivalent of SIS a
month" Lewis declared.
HWiIsOn MlsinfOrmed.0
president Wilson is again incor-
rectly informed when he says that
the proposed strike was not taken
by the sanction OF the membership
of the United Mine Workers OF
America" President Lewis stated.
'The Cleveland convention held in
September had 2,044 delegates rep
resenting local unions, called there
for the specific purpose OF passing
on the merits of our wage demands.
These delegates we're elected by
the local unions and were respon-
sibIe only to the local unions for
their action Consequently, they
were. in so far as our union is con-
cerned. as truly a representative
body as is the congress represen-
tative of American people"
Mr.. Lewis said he was "astound-
ed to know Of the action the presi-
dent had taken" and expressed the
opinion that 1T is without prece
dent and. in so far as I am aware,
without warrant Of law"
Government Getting Ready.
Washington. Oct. Measures
to meet the situation which would
result from the threatened strike
Of bituminous coal miners Satur-
day, were considered today by ad-
ministration officials.
No reply from officers of the
United Mine Workers of America
to the demand of President Wilson
that the strike be called off is ex-
pected until after the miners ex-
ecutive committee meets at Indian
apolis Wednesday, but meantime
officials took cognizance of the
statements of union leaders that it
would be physically impossible to
withdraw the strike order by Nov. l.
Keep Plans Secret
The administration program for
dealing with the strike naturally
will not be disclosed uhtll the
strike has developed.
ITO announce now what the gov
eminent will do in the event of
strike" said one official, would be
10 play into the hands Of the boil
sheviki element. If you are going
TO start a great offensive you do
not tell the other fellow what you
are going to do"
While it is the purpose to keep
strong hand" on the radicals, Of
fcials made It plain that caution
could be exercised not to antagon-
ize the more conservative element.
In this connection they said that
many of the miners demands might
be Just.
TT is the means they use to OBJ
tain their demands to which we
object" said a high official.