Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1919-11-04
MINERS REJECT
WILSON'S PLEA
Five Hundred Thousand Men Are
to Strike November l,
Says Leader.
PRESIDENTS APPEAL FAILS
John L. Lewis, President of the United
Mine Workers, Says Strike Order
Stands - Coal Operators Ae-
cept Arbitration Offer.

Washington, Oct. 81. - Efforts Of
secretary Wilson to avert a strike of
coal miners in the central competi-
tive fields failed. the miners rejecting
proposal from President Wilson that
the controversies be arbitrated.
John l.. Lewis, president of the
United Mine Workers, announced that
the strike order stood and that half
ambition soft coal miners would quit
work November l. Official notice
that mediation efforts had failed will
be sent at once to all districts. he
stated.
'"The operators accepted the pres
Brewster, head of the Coal Operators
association said.
The presidents appeal to the min
ers read:
Il have been watching with deep
and sincere interest your efforts TO
bring about just settlement of the diff
ferences between the operators and
the coal miners in the bituminous
coal fields of the country.
1T is to be hoped that the good judg-
ment that has been exercised by both
operators and miners in years gone
by in the adjustment of their differ
ences will again prevail in the present
crisis.
"All organized society is depending
upon the maintenance of the fuel sup
ply for the continuance of its exist
ence. The government has appealed
with success to other classes of work
ers TO postpone similar questions I'M
til reasonable adjustment could be
arrived at.
with the parties of the contfc-
versy rests the responsibility of seeing
that the fuel supply of the nation is
maintained. At this time, when the
world is in need of more supplies, it
would be cruel neglect of our high
duty to humanity to fail them.
II have read with interest the sug-
scale committees of the operators and
miners go into conference without res
ervation for the purpose Of negotiat-
ing an agreement as though no de-
mands had been made or rejected,
having due regard to the interests of
their respective groups. l am in ac-
cord with that suggestion.
mo body of men knows better the
details. intricacies and technicalitieS
of mining than do the miners and OPP
orators. No body of men can work
out the details of the wage scale on
a more equitable basis. Their judg-
ment would undoubtedly be based upon
sum total of knowledge of the in
dustry.
whatever their differences may be,
no matter how widely divergent their
viewpoints may be from each other,
it is duty which they owe society
to make an earnest effort to negotiate
those differences and to keep the
mines of our country in opera
ton.
"After all, the public interest'in this
vital matter is the paramount cOnsid-
Grafton of the government and admits
of no other action than that of con-
sideration of a peaceful settlement Of
the matter as suggested by you.
eff for any reason the miners and
operators fail to come to mutual I'M
Outstanding the interests of the public
are of such vital Importance in con-
nectiOn with the production of coal
that it is incumbent upon them to re-
fer the matter in dispute to a board
of arbitration for determination and
to continue the operation of the mines
pending the decision of the board"