The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-10-30
CHIEF Of MINERS
DEF|ES us. ARMY
Lewis Says Wilson's Threats Can
Have No Influence.
JAIL CANNOT HALT STRIKE
Defends Demands OF Men for More
Pay With Comparisons With other
Trades-Suggcsts an open
Way to Farley.

Springfield, H., Oct. 2S.-PrefGcing
his announcement with the statement
that he had received no communica-
ton from government sources as to
President Wilson's stand against the
threatened strike of soft coal miners
November l, John l.. Lewis, acting
president of the United Mine Workers
IF America, declared the widely her
aided intimation that force may be re-
sorted to will not serve to allay the
crisis"
1.-THE threats to prosecute and In
carcerate myself and associates will
neither prevent the strike nor termi-
nate it if 1t occurs" Mr.. Lewis said.
Visited at his home here, where he
came, seeking rest. Lewis stated there
were no new developments in the
strike situation. He was keeping in
touch with international headquarters
Mt Indianapolis by long-distance tele-
phone.
Suggests Way to Avert Strike.
There is even yet way In which
this strike may be avoided" Mr.. Lewis
said THE government should as
semble the coal operators and use its
power and influence to secure from
them for the miners a just considera-
ton of their demands An agreement
could be reached within three days If
the coal operators would approach the
question in good faith and with open
minds"
Lewis declared the refusal of the
operators to negotiate new wage
agreement and their insistence that the
present contract does not expire until
April l, 1920, was the cruX of the
whole matter.
Defending the demands Of the min
ers for more pay. Mr.. Lewis said in
seven and n half years mine workers
had enjoyed wage increases of only
371a per cent, whereas steel workers
had been given increases reaching III
per cent since 1914.
During the - months since the
signing of the armistice the average
wage of the bituminOus mine workers
does not exceed $500 year, or the
equivalent of $50 a month" Lewis
declared.
president Wilson Is again incorrect
iy informed when he says that the
proposed strike was not taken by the
sanction of the membership of the
United Mine Workers of America
Y IN
land convention, held in September,
had 2,044 delegates, representing To-
cal unions, called there for the specific
purpose of passing on the merits Of
our wage demands. These delegates
were elected by the local unions and
were responsible only 10 the local
unions for their action Consequently.
they were, In so far as our union is
concerned, rs truly representative
body as is the congress representative
of the American people"
"Astounded" at Wilson's Action.
Mr.. Lewis said he was "astounded
to know of the action which the presi-
dent has taken" and expressed the
opinion that II is without precedent,
and. In so far as | am aware, without
warrant of law"
Refusal of +. II, Gary. chairman Of
the board of the United States Steel
corporation, to arbltrate the steel
strikes issues was mentioned by PresI.
dent Lewis as analogous to the att
tude of miners officials In the mine
crisis. "Judge Gary reiterated his re
fusal to permit any mediation or even
to refer matters tn arbitration" de-
clared Lewis, 'and the government
permitted the country to be involved
In great steel strike without pro-
test"
Mr.. Lewis said 1t was possible that
| district presidents in states comprising
the central competitive tield-lndana,
Ohio, Illinois and western Pennsyl-
vania-mlght be called into the con
Ference Wednesday at indianapolis of
international executive board mem
bers. The attitude of the government,
he stated, would be given attention.