The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-10-30
DEMANDS USE
Of BIC STICK
ON OPERATORS

0hu 0ut~
Lewis Declares He's .Astound-
ed' at President Threats
Warrington Officials Prepare
For Stern Action.
Springfield ILL.,. Oct. 2s.-Noth-
ing but government pressure to.
force coal mine operators to give
the demands of the miners "just
consideration can avert the
threatened coal strike on Novem-
Der a President Johu Il.
Lewis, Of The United Mine Work
ers Of America, declared in a state
ment issued at his home here to-
day.
Though he has not been official
ly notified of President Wilson's
statement of Saturday, Lewis de-
clared he is positively astounded
at the presidents action"
THE presidents action fis without
precedent" Lewis declared, and insofar
as / know without warrant of law. The
president is i'll advised when he says
tho Washington agreement has not ex-
pred. 1t expired November IL.
whether or not our membership is
in harmony with the wage demands
i of the organizations officers would per-
haps be more clearly revealed by the
manner in which they would respond to
a strike call" he declared.
The miners head declared that un-
less the official text Of the presidents
statement differs from the newspaper
accounts, he will not change his posi-
ton relative to the strike.
Power to Halt Strike.
Lewis declared the miners executive
board conference at Indianapolis next
Wednesday would consider any new
developments in the strike situation
that might arise between now and
that time.
In reply to a question as to whether
the executive board had the power to
call off the strike, Lewis answered in
the affirmative, but reiterated that the
"b!ame lies with the operators and
action should be forced from that
source"
1.-THE threats to prosecute and incar-
cerate myself and associates will
neither prevent the strike nor termi-
nate it, if it occurs" Mr.. Lewis said
Extent of Strike.
Should the strike go into effect Sat
urday, it is claimed, every Ryan.
lied bituminous coal miner in The
United States would cease%scr!s AND
MANY u]norganized miners would joiI
the strike. ~
He estimated that between 500 90,
and GOO, 900 men would walk out an
added that the government estimated
that the shut down would cut off 81
per cent of the bituminous coal pro
duced in the United States.
The strike, according to Mr.. Searles
would affect the partially organized
fields OF central Pennsylvania. parts o
West Virginia. excluding the Poca
hontas field which is not organized
portions CT east Tennessee and Ken
lucky. Alabama and Colorado and al
of the 100 per cent organized fields
which include Ohio, Indiana. Michigan
Illinois. western Kentucky, Missouri!
Kansas, Oklahoma. Montana an,
Washinton. Bitumirous miners Il
Canada will not be affected.
Governors Stand.
In a statement today, Governo
Goodrich, republican, strongly sup
ported President Wilson in his stand.
TT is the duty of every good citize,
of the nation to support the p~residen
inthis emergency" lie aid.
Full cooperation Of the state of Hi
ncis with President Wilson in tn
presidents announced stand on tn
strike of coal miners, scheduled for No
vember 1, is pledged by Gov. Frank c
Lowden, ito the END that the peopl
shall not suffer"
STAND OF OPERATORS.
St. Louis, Oct. S7.-Thomas r. Brew
ster, chairman of he coa operators
scale committee, returning from Wash
ington, reiterated that the operator
were willing to arbitrate grievances O
the miners, but emphasized that pro
duction should continue pending settle
Inent Of differences.
president Wilson expressed GU
views In his statement" Mr.. Brewste
asserted. ITO accept the 'unconditiona
surrender demanded by the miner
would wreck the coal mining industr
basic inturstial standards n re
lations."
GOVERNMENTS PROGRAM.
Washington, Oct. 28.-Cabinet mem
bers have prepared a program of la,
enforcement which they believe wi
protect the country from any emer
gency arising out Of the threatene
coal strike II miners' officials insis
OIL putting it into effect.
Pending decision of the miners. tn
government will talk no stand as t
merits of the controversy publicly.
was indicated today, however that tn
blame for the present situation is nc
regarded as one-sided and that miner.
II they will consent to arbitration a
offered by President Wilson, will hav
their just grievances remedied.
There are several openings throug
which the government may get into tn
coal controversy
The present contract. which is to ru