Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-10-30
FARLEY FAILS TO
STOP BIG STRIKE
Coal Miners Reject the ,Presi-
dents Plea for Peace.
ARBITRATE, SAY OPERATORS
President John L. Lewis of the United
Mine Workers Declares the Order
for a WaIkout on Novem-
Der ! Stands.

Secretary Wilson to avert a strike OF
coal miners in the central COMPETE
tive fields failed, the miners rejecting
a proposal from President Wilson that
the controversies be arbitrated.
The operators previously had ac-
cepted the presidents proposal. After
the rejection by the miners the con-
ference Of the two scale committees
here was adjourned with every pros
pect that the strike would occur NO
vember 1, as called.
John L. Lewis, president OF the
United Mine Workers, announced that
the strike order stood and that half
million soft coal miners would quit
work November 1. Official notice
that mediation efforts had failed will
be sent at once to all districts, he
stated.
Accept Plan in Full.
"The operators accepted the pres
fdent's offer in toto," Thomas L.
Brewster, head of the Coal Operators
association, said.
erS read:
81 have been watching with deep
and sincere interest your efforts to
bring about just settlement of the diff
ferences between the operators and
the coal miners in the bituminous
coal fields of the country.
''It is to be hoped that the good judg-
ment that has been exercised by both
operators and miners in years gone
by in the adjustment Of their differ
ences will again prevail in the present
crisis.
"All organized society is depending
upon the maintenance Of the fuel sup
ply for the continuance of it's exist
ence. The government has appealed
with success to other classes of work
ers to postpone similar questions un-
til reasonable adjustment could be
| arrived at.
Duty to Society.
"With the parties of the contro-
versy rests the responsibility of seeing
| that the fuel supply of the nation is
maintained. At this time, when the
world is in need of more supplies, it
| would be a cruel neglect of our high
| duty to humanity to fail them.
II have read with interest the sug-
gestion made by you that the wage
scale committees of the operators and
miners go into conference without res
| ervation for the purpose Of negotiat-
ing an agreement as though no de-
| mands had been made or rejected,
having due regard to the interests Of
their respective groups. I am in ac-
| cord with that suggestion.
mo body of men knows better the
details, intricacies and technicalities
| of mining than do the miners and OPP
orators. No body of men can work
out the details Of tie wage scale on
a more equitable basis. Their judg-
ment would undoubtedly be based upon
a sum total of knowledge of the In
dustry.
| Public Interest Vital.
"Whatever their differences may be,
no matter how widely divergent their
view pOlutC u1dy NC IIo1a CASA OIAOA,
| it is duty which they owe society
| to make an earnest effort to negoti-
ate those differences and to keep the
| mines of our country in operation.
"After all, the public interest in this
vital matter is the paramount consid-
Grafton of the government and admits
of no other action than that of con-
'sideration Of peaceful settlement Of
the matter as suggested by you.
eff for any reason the miners and
operators fail to come to mutual I'M
derstanding the interests Of the public
| are Of such vital Importance in con-
| nection with the production of coal
that it is incumbent upon them to re-
| fer the matter in dispute to a board
of arbitration for determination and
to continue the operation of the mines
o4