The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-13
[, MINERS ASK GOVERNOR TO FORM ARBITRATION BOARD;
 WILL ABIDE BY DECISION
(continued from Page Four)

our differences with the coal operators in order that the great calamity of strike might be avoided. We were finally forced by the operators to call the men out of the mines. Thus the responsibility for the present situation surely rests with the coal operators due to their open disregard of the explicit orders of Pres ident Wilson.
 ''The mine workers have demonstrated their patriotism to our country and it's institutions. No class of people living has greater love for their country. Hun dreds of the boys who were in the mili- tary services of our country in France and other foreign battlefields are now oi strike. God knows they are not lead
 ing a revolution but are fighting for a living wage and their rights as Ameri- cans
 "The state militia has been stationed in the coal fields for several weeks, and we all must recognize the drain ,urs Is upon the taxpayers of Alabama. We are proud of our record for peace and or der. General Steiner. in charge of the state troops, has publicly commended the miners for their splendid conduct and law observance during the strike.
 With all these things in our favor, we feel that the liberty-loving people of Ala bama are with the miners and their families in this fight.
 Notwithstanding all this. moved by pa- triotic reasons, with no thought of the near approach of winter and of the great shortage of coal that will inevitably result if the strike continues, Knowing the tre- mendous hardships our own people must suffer and realizing that the strike of the coal miners may spread to other vital
 industries, in the name of the people whom we have the honor to represent we submit the following concrete proposition as final basis for settling the contro- vcrsy now existing in the coal fields of Alabama:
 ARBITRATION PLAN
 '"That you as the chief executive of
 Alabama appoint commission con
 sisting of a representative of the
 miners organization, a coal operator
 now engaged in the business and a third person as a representative of the public, to immediately take up for consideration all questions involved and render a decision at the earliest possible date. Any decision reached must have the approval of the repre- sentative of the public on the com | mission.
 "The mine workers pledge themselves 1 to abide by such decision as this com mission may render. The mine worNer' also agree to return to work immediately , uron your notifcationN that the propo sition has been accepted by the coal op orators The interests of the public art .. fully protected, as any decision rendered l by the commission must have the ap' proval of the representative of the public 'We desire that you distinctly under stand that we do not make this proposi ton with any thought of our forces weak ening, but on the other hand, we art guided by purely patriotic motives in th' hope that this controversy may be settled once and for all
 'In offering this concrete method O settlement we are leaving the future hap piness of the miners. their wives and lit tie children entirely in your hands a. the governor of the commonwealth O Alabama, and trusting to your sense O justice. If we are forced to continue th' strike because of the refusal of th' coal operators to accept this proposition | then the responsibility must rest witt them. Very respectfully. .'van A. Bittner. International Repre- sentative.
 "J R. Kennamer. President Distric | No 20.
 "J. l.. Clemo, Secretary Treasurer Dis | trict No. 20
 | "William l.. Harrison, Internationa Board Member, United Mine Workers o l America"