South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-31
WILSON ASKS MEN TO
RETURN TO WORK UNTIL
SCALE COMMITTEE MEETS
Sends Telegram to the United
Mine Workers of
America.
REJECT PROPOSAL
Decline to Meet With Mem
bers of Union TO Dis
cuss Wages.
BY Associatee Press.

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. July 3O.-Pres't
Wilson, through the United Mine
Workers of America. tonight ap-
pealed 10 striking mine laborers in
Illinois and Indiana to return TO
work.
Inequalities i'm the existing wage
scale-held by the strike leaders 20
be the cause Of the walkout which
has closed most OF the bituminous
mines OF the two s-ates-may exist,
the president said He added that
he could not recommend correction
Of any inequalities until the strikers
returned TO their Jobs but that when
they did do so he would invite the
joint scale committee Of operators
and miners 10 meet for the p irpose
Of adjusting any such inequalities.
The president issued his appeal
IN the form of a telegram addressed
to the United Mine Workers OF
America after he had studied a re-
port on the coal situation submitted
by Sect'y Of the Navy Daniels.
Gets Strike Report.
Reports OF the strike OF mine la
I
/ president said. had been received by
/ him with a feeling Of regret and
/ sorrow. He declared that he was
! distressed not only because failure
/ at this time 10 mine coal in accor-
/ dance with the terms Of the existing
| contract would result IN suffering
/ during the coming winter. but also
/ because the violation OF the terms
I of your solemn obligations imIairs
+ your good name. destroys the conf
dence which is the basis OF all mu-
| tuaI agreement and threatens the
/ very foundations OF fair industrial
/ relations.
Pointing out that the United MinC
Workers constituted the largest single
/ labor organization in the world. the
/ president said no organization
would long endure that sets up its
won strength as being superior -
i:S pIghted Iaith or us duty u So
C!c'y'.
Presidents Telegram.
The presidents telegram follows
1T is with a feeling Of profound
regret and sorrow that have learned
that many members If your organ
ization. particularly in the state OF
Illinois. have engaged in a strike in
violation Of the terms OF the award
Of the bituminous coal commission.
and your agreement with the govern
ment that the findings OF the com
sissiOn would be accepted boy yOu as
final and binding. I am distressed
not only because your action in re-
fusing 20 mine coal upon the terms
which YOU had accepted may result
in great suffering in many house
holds during tho coming winter and
interfere with the continuation OF in
dustrial and agricultural activity
which is the basis OF the prosperity
y hich YOU In common with the bal
ance OF our people have been enjoy
ing but also. and what IS Of far more
importance. because the violation of
the terms " your solemn obligation
impairs your good name, destroys
the confidence which is the basis OF
all mutual agreement and threatens
the very foundation Of fair indus
trial relations. so government. 10
employer. no person having and rep
utatiou 10 protect can afford 90 enter
into coutractual relations with any
organization which Systematically
and repeatedly violates its contracts
The United Mine Workers or
America is the largest single labor
organization ln the United States. ~
not in the world. but no organization
can long endure that sets up its own
strength ass being superior 20 IT'S
plighted faith or its duty 10 society
at large. It has in the past blit
up an cnriable reputation fOr abId-
ing by IT'S contracts. which has been
one Of its most valuable assets 10
making wage agreements. Il NAV
now make temporary gains by taking
advantage Of the dire necessities Of
the balance OF the people. through
the violation OF these contracts. hut
what OF the future How can %
expect wage contracts with the em-
ployers 10 be continued. IN the face
Of such violations. when normal con
ditions have been restored and the
country is free from the immediate
shortage OF Coal2 How VIII % be
able 20 resist the claims Of the Oper-
ators in the future 20 take advantage
OF the precedent which the miners
have established. and decrease wage
rates in the middle Of a wage con-
tract under the plea that they are
unable 90 sell the coal 20 the then
existing cost Of production 4 mere
staten eut Of the questions ought %
be sufficient % awaken the miners
20 the dangerous course they are
pursuing and the injuries they are
inficting upon themselves and the
country az large bv the adoption of
these unwarranted strike policies.
May Bc Inequalities.
In the consideration OF the ma
tion wide wage scale involving many
different classes Of labor hy the h!-
luminous coal commission ia the
limited time az IFS disposal some i'm
qualities may have developed I'm tho
award that ought % he corrected I
cannot however. recommend any
nCoNTTNr-ED OK PACE FOIrRe