Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-26
Policy Determined
Upon at All-Day
Session of the
Cabinet.
USE OF ALL MEANS
TO AVERT CRISIS
Insists That Present Contract
Is Binding Until Peace
Has Been Finally
Established.

A~S >y
Established.
Serving notice that the power Of
the government would be used to up
hold the law and protect the inter
ests of the nation in any emergency,
President Wilson issued statement
from his sick bed last night declar-
ing the Impending coal strike to be
both ..unjustifable' and unlawful"
The President called upon the coal
miners. to rescind the strike order
effective November !. He announced
his willingness to appoint a commits
sion to investigate the situation and
to bring about an orderly settlement
of the controversy. with recognition
of the rights of the miners, the ope-
rators and the public. He offered to
appoint the commission at the request
of either the miners or the operators.
or both.
Cabinet Approves Statement.
The statement Of the President was
issued with the approval Of his entire
C8oltlSb. 1A6 IICSaoSht oCSAAAhSN ~
enter into the merits Of the contro-
versy between the miners and the
operators. but emphatically declared
that the strike, which he characterized
. the most far-reaching proposal In
tbs nations history to restrict pro-
duction and the distrfbu3ion Of all the
nseessaries Of life. apparently had been
yota ~ thu {p6fViA.
ual miners concerned.
For this reason. the President served
dsnnite notice "that the law win be
enforced and the means will be found
to protect the interests of the nation
In any emergency that may arise out
Of THIS unhappy business"
: The Presidents statement was is
sued last night, after his cabinet had
gone over the entire situation with
partment. whose efforts to bring
miners and operators together in ne
gottafions had failed The cabinet,
with only Secretary Lansing. detained
1t his homs by illness, missing. met
hrst yesterday morning and again late
In the afternoon. Rear Admiral Gray
son, the Presidents personal physi-
clan, was summoned to the afternoon
session. Apparently he agreed to the
submission Of the matter to his pa
tient. for soon afterward the cabinet
meeting broke up and the Presidents
statement was issued.
Reviews Steps Taken.
The President, in his statement, re-
viewed the steps leading up to the
strike call, including the Cleveland
convention of the United Mine Work
ers Of America one month ago, at
which thu demands for a thirty-hour
week and a so per cent increase in
wages was formulated. The war in
itself, the President asserted. still was
q fact, peace negotiations still in
suspense and troops still being trans
ported. Because of these factors and
the added consideration that victims
OF the strike would be among both
the rich and the poor OF the nation,
the President said the proposed walk
out could only be considered as I'M
lawful, and as the nations executive
fntrusted with the enforcement OF
the law, he would use the means at
his disposal to prevent any stoppage
Of work.
Tho services OF the government as a
mediator, offered Friday by the Presi-
dent through Secretary Wilson. but
not accepted. were again held out.
There was no direct intimation OF
what steps the cabinet had discussed
to prevent stoppage of work should
the Presidents solemn warning to the
miners to rescind the strike order Tall
of result. It was regarded as signih-
can't, however, that attention was
drawn In White House circles to the
statements made by Secretary Baker
in a recent address IN Cleveland. wher
Mr.. Baker announced that department
commanders had been directed to fur
nish troops at the request OF gov
ernors without referring the matter tc
washinEton. Maj. Gen. Wood, in the
Central Department, has already ex-
ercised that authority in the steel strike
situation.
Lewis Left Prior to statemnt.
John l. LewiA president Of thu
United Mine Workers Of America
worn out by q weeks session Of scale
committees, had left here last nigh
for Springfield. Ill. to take persona
charge Of the strike, before the Pres
dents statement was issued.
"The situation 80 far as the minerI
are concerned is unchanged" Lewi
said. we are still ready and Willing
to negotiate a new wage contract be
fore November l."
He made no suggestion as to hov
this might be done in view Of tn
failure OF Secretary Wilson's effort
to that end.
Senator Frelinghuysen OF New Jer
sey, chairman Of the interstate com
IContinued on Second Paee.l