Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-11-05
that President Gompers issued state
ment tonight.
Labor Leaders Statement.

Labor lesder's Statement.
Tn tho first instance" Mr.. Gompers
said. 1T should be known that the de-
mands of the miners. which. upon tho
surface seem so radical and f.,r-reach-
ing, are by no means so. For several
years the miners have not had more
than half years work--their work.
ing days averaging from 100 to $50
days per year.. intermittent. by days
and by wecks--employment and then
unemployment.
The msners simply ask for regu-
lation OF this working time SO that
coal production and employment may
be regular, rather than intermittent.
IL the miners were permitted by the
operators to work full time the sup
ply OF coal thus mined would soon
force down the price of coal on the
market, ana this the operators are de-
termined not to permit. Tho miners
case might better be stated by their
demanding at least five days Of six
hours work per week. which Is really
more than they are permitted to work
at the present time.
"An understanding OF these condiL
tions clearly shows who are RESPONSE
pic loE tuc pfSSeht SitudtiOH uno Sho
cause.
Operators Got Theirs"
when in 1914 the miners received
an increase of 20 cents per ton the
operators raised the selling price IS
per ton. Surely the conditions and
the standards Of life Of the miners
have deteriorated by reason OF there
being no practical advance In their
wages and their earning power. while
the cost OF living has scared higher
and higher.
'The mandate of the officers Of the
United Mine Workers Of America was
direct from the Representatives Of the
men, whoS at the recent convention
decided that unless substantial i'm
provement In wages and q regulation
OF the working time were granted the
strike order should be issued % t,ke
effect Nov. /. So '''. -'..''
'President Lewis and his associates.
therefore, had no alternative. particu-
larly when the mine ouerators, left
the conference. leaving the representa-
tives Of the miners alone.
"Injunction a Grave Hlunder."
"The injunction secured by the at
torney general could not prevent the
strike, for it was issued after the
strike notice had already gone forth.
The Injunction was not only a grave
wrong but a gross blunder. 1t prac-
tically takes away the constructive In
fluence of the officers OF the organi-
cation and. indeed. bars them from
attempting to end the strike.
Instead OF conservative leadership
prevailing 1t places the whole move
ment in the hands OF local men. who
may vie with each other and be at
variance with each other.
II the Injunction we're vacated and
the department of labor invite the
operators and the representatives Of
the United Mine Workers to a fur
.ther conference have an abiding
faith that a mutually honorable ad-
tustment can be negotiated and af-
fected whereby the coal strike can
be brought to an end"
Attorney General Palmer made clear
the governments position as to the
legal status OF the case In q letter adj
dressed frzsStTard Keenan,. secretary
,of the Delaware river shipbuilders'
council which had adapted resolutions
denouncing the governments injunc-
tion suit against the mining officials.