New-York tribune., 1919-10-31
A Strike That VIII Fail

the government, the miners organl-
cations and the mine operators are
10 be read together.
The government, summarizing the
facts, says that the miners conven-
ton in September declared that on
November ! strike would auto
matically occur if by that date the
miners were not conceded a GO per
cent increase of pay (on top of
prior increase Of from 80 to 70 per
cent?, a siX-hour day and fve-day
week.
The action forestalled conference or
egotlation-was an ultimatum, not
a summons to a parley; required an
unconditional surrender, not an un-
derstanding. An unexpired contract
was in the way, but this was treated
rs scrap of paper. The doors to
arbitration we're locked. The miners
agents, allowed no discretion, were
merely messengers to transmit un-
changeable terms. At farcical meet
ings with the operators the repre-
Sentatives of the miners, con-
strained by imperative instructions,
had no choice but to decline any set
tlement not provided for in their
tablets of stone.
In their statement, not being able
to deny the plain facts of the record,
the spokesmen for the miners prac-
tically confess their case is indefen-
sible. They do this by studied avoid
ance of any complete summary of
it. Instead, they twist and garble it.
They admit that the convention Or
dered strike for November /, but
in a misleading way say that it was
10 occur "in the event scale was not
negotiated before that time
The word negotiation" is
strange one to use in the circum-
stances. II am not arguing-I am
telling you" said Mr.. Lewis in effect
His "negotiations' had resemblance
to those carried on by a Mexican
bandit who arrives at petroleum
we'll and says he has come to "nego-
tate' loan of 0O,0OO-not a
cent less and no security given.
Blame is laid on the operators on
the ground that they would not
negotiate. They had no chance to
negotiate. What the operators did
was to ask for resembling Of the
resolution which prevented negotia-
ton and to offer to submit the His-
pute to arbitration. Mr.. Lewis re-
piled that he would not call con-
vention to unite his hands by re-
session, and that in the mean time
ne was not at liberty to consider
arbitration. There is in form an
offer TO confer again, but what is
the use Of a conference if the con-
ferees on one side have no discre-
tion? If the only terms of settle
ment are those submitted by one
side and arbitration cannot be even
considered, the operators can sub
NIT by mail or wire as easily as by
word of mouth.
The miners will scarcely be helped
in public opinion by this attempt to
shuttle vital facts out of view The
split came because the miners
adopted a policy which precluded
anything in the nature Of real con-
ference OF negotiation. The miners
. officers are intelligent enough to see
where the temporary convention
supremacy Of the radical element
has landed them. They appreciate
that familiar convention trick was
played by springing a proposal they
d'd not dare openly to oppose. 1t is
human for men 10 vote for maximum
demands and to shout down supoea-
Nons that the other side should be
allowed chance TO say something.
And as the miners officers did not
dare to oppose the radicals, so thew
are afraid to do So now-will be
afraid antil there is a stoppage Of
work and distress begins to be felt
The operators reiterate their pre-.
Vious declarations-namely, thai
they will negotiate if the miners in.
dicate a willingness to negotiate b,
withdrawing their ultimatum, anc
that, failing this, they are ready tx
srbitratc.
Seldom is it the province Of a
newspaper 10 venture decided
opinion concerning the merits Of
disputes when both sides are selfish.
But the facts concerning the threat
ened strike are 20 PLAIN and it Is so
openly aimed al the public rather
than at the operators that a suspen-
SION Of the rule seems justiGable.
The strike viii fail, and it is clear
that It ought to fail Not friends Of
the wage workers " this country
&ye thoke who vs.yt4 ,ra opoul,, +< ,u.