Norwich bulletin., 1919-10-30
STATEMENT BY UNITED
 MINE WORKERS OFFICIALS

Indianapolis. Ind. Oct. 29.-That "a strike of bituminous miners cannot be avoided" was the outstanding conclu- sion of a statement issued. late today Workers onicials Blame for the sit uation. Waszlaid -at-tha feet of1the op- orators because they had refused to negotiate a wage agreement notwitfI- standing the fact that the mine work CTS representative had urged and beseeched them to do SOL
 The miners. the statement claims, will be exercising constitutiona1 rights in striking. The statement also set forth that the union officials gave pro- found consideration to the statement of President Wilson as it appeared in the newspapers and added that no communication on that subject had been received from the federal ad- miniStratiOn-
 The statement follows:
 "The conference of United Mine Workers, composed of members of the international executive board. the scale committee of the central com petitive district and the district pres idents United Mine Workers of America, gave most profound consid- eration to the statement of the presi- dent of the United States. which ap- peared in the public press recently, relative to the impending strike of bituminous miners set for Nov. 1. No communication was received by the
 
 Mine Workers of America from either the president or any representative of the federal government
 A canvass of the entire situation shows that Q strike of bituminous miners cannot be avoided. A regular ly constituted convention of repre- sentatives of the United Mine Work CTS held at Cleveland. O. on Sept. 25, ordered a strike of bituminous mine workers to become effective Nov. in the event a wage scale was not nego- tiated by tha ttime. The highest au- thority in the organization has acted of the organization have authority to set such action aside. The facts are that the same supreme authority which ordered the pending strike is the same that which approved the contract which has now expired
 '.TAe responsibility for the strike rests with the coal operators They have refused to negotiate a wage agreement. notwithstanding the fact the mine workers representatives, have urged and beseeNhed them to do so. The fundamental causes which prompted the mine workers to take this drastic action are deep seated For two years their wages have re- mained stationary. They appealed one year ago to the federal fuel ad- ministrator, Dr. Garfield. and from him to the. president of the United States for an increase in wages sufficient to meet the increase in the cost of the necessities of life. Their appeal was rejected and their request refused. Notwithstanding this. they continued mining coal until now their contract expires. when they are determined that their grievances must be adjusted in a reasona bly, satisfactory manner.
 The courts have held that the have right to strike and may quit work either singiy or col lectively for the purpose of redressinx grievances and fighting wages. The constitution and guarantees of this to work or quit work individually or 
 ''The mine workers therefore are but exercising the right guaranteed by the constitution and which cannot be taken away by the represent tatives of the government when they quit work or when they refuse to work until their grievances are adjusted. The mine workers representatives are ready, willing and anxious to meet the coal operators for the purpose of ne gotiating an agreement and bringing about a settlement of the present un- happy situation. They will respond at any time to a call for such meeting and will honestly endeavor to work out a wage agreement upon a fair and equitable basis, which agreement alone will put the mines in operation and the nation an adequate supply of coal. We assert that the mine workers have purpose in view , Bther than to secure a working agree nent. All of their demands are tnccr-