Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-10-27

On September 90, 1919, the
convention of the United Mine
Workers of America, at Cleve-
land, Ohio, adopted a proposal
declaring that all contracts in
the bituminous field shall be de-
clared as having automatically
expired November l, 1919, and
making various demands, in
cluding a 60 per cent. increase
in wages and the adoption of a
siX-hour workday and q five-day
week, and providing that. in the
event satisfactory wage agree
ment should not be secured for
the central competitive field be-
fore November 1, 1919, the ma
tional officials should be author
lied and instructed to call a
general strike of all bituminous
miners and mine workers
throughout the United States,
effective November 1, 1919.
Pursuant to these instr uctions,
the officers of the orgu nization
have issued n call to make the
strike effective November /.
This Is one of the gravest steps
ever proposed in this country,
affecting the economic welfare
and the domestic comfort and
health OF fhe people. 1t is pto-
posed to abrogate al agree
ment as to wages which was
made with the sanction of the
United States Fuel Administra-
ton and which was to run dur
ing the continuance Of the war,
but not beyond April /, 1920.
This strike Is proposed at a
time when the government is
making the most earnest effort
to reduce living cost and has
appealed with success to other
classes of workers to postpone
similar disputes until a reason
able opportunity has been af-
forded for dealing with the cost
of living. 1t is recognized that
the strike would practically
shut off the country's supply of
its principal fuel at Tina when
interference with that supply is
calculated to create a disastrous
fuel famine.
All interests would be affa IT.
ed alike by strike of this char
acter, and its victims would he
not the rich only but the poor
and needy as well-those least
able to provide in advance a
fuel supply for domestic use. II
would involve the shutting down
of countless industries and the
throwing out of employment of
a large number of the work.
ers of the country.
World "Still I'm Suspense"
1t would involve the opera
ton of railroads, electric light
and gas plants, steel railway
lines and other public utilities,
and the shipping to and from
this country, thus preventing
our giving aid to the Allied
countries with supplies which
they so seriously need.
The country is confronted
with this prospect at n time
when the war itself is still a
fact, when the world is still in
suspense as to negotiations for
peace when our troops are still
being transported and when
their means of transport Is in
urgent need OF fuel
From whatever angle the sub
ject may be viewed, it is ap-
parent that such q strike in
such circumstances would be
the most far-reaching plan ever
presented in this country to
limit the facilities of production
and distribution of a necessity
of life and thus indirectly to re-
strict the production and distri-
button of all the necessities of
life. A strike under these cir
cumstances is not only unjustifi-
able, it is unlawful.
The action proposed has ap-
parently been taken without any
vote upon the specific PROPOSE
ton by the individual members
of the United Mine Workers of
America throughout the United
States, an almost unprecedented
proceeding. cannot believe
that any right of any Amer
lean worker needs for its pro-
lection the taking of this extra
ordinary step, and l am con-
Vinced that when the time and
money are considered 1t con-
stitutes q fundamental attack,
which is wrong both morally
and legally. upon the rights of
society and upon the welfare of
our country. I feel convinced
that individual members of the
Unitod Mine Workers would not
vote, upon full consideration, in
favor of such q strike under
these conditions.
Public Iutcrcst Is Paramount
When q movement reaches q