New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-31
Mandatory Order Will Be
Issued to Workers in
Illinois and Indiana to
Resume Work at Once
President Sends
Demand by Wire
Warns Union of Broken
Agreement; Promises to
Act il Walk-Out Ends

INDIANAPOLIS, July 30.-In com.
pllance with the wishes of President
wilson, as expressed to-day in tele.
gram to the coal miners. John l.. Lewis.
president of the United Mine Workers
OIL America, will issue mandatory
order lnstructing all miners NOW on
strike IN Indiana and Illinois to re-
turn to work Immediately, so as to
permit the normal operation of the
mines, 1T was announced at miners
national headquarters here tonight.
Inc statement was issued after a
conference had reported favorably on
the Presidents telegram, which was re-
celved here tonight. ~ am profoundly
impressed by the Presidents telegram.
the statement said. "The suggestion
OF the President will be approved nv
every right thinking and loyal member
of the United Mine Workers of
America"
WASHINGTON. JULY 30.-President
wilson, through the United Mine Work
ers of America, tonight appealed to
striking mine laborers in Illinois and
lhdNana to return to work
Inequalities in the existing wage
scale-held by the strike leaders TO be
the cause of the walk-out which has
closed most of the bituminous mines in
the two states-may exist, the President
SAID. lie added that he could not rec
ommend correction of any inequalities
until the strikers returned to their
Jobs, but that when they did so he
would invite the joint scale committee
OF operators and miners to meet for the
purpose Of adjusting any such inequali-
ties
The President issued statement in
the form OF telegram addressed to
the United Mine Workers of America
after he had studied a report on the
coal situation submitted by Secretary
OF Labor Wilson.
President Issues Warning
Reports of the strike of mine labor
ers, particularly in Illinois, the Presi-
dent said. had been received by him
with feeling of regret and sorrow"
He declared that hoF was distressed
not only because failure at this time to
mine coal in accordance with the terms
OF the existing contract would result in
suffering during the coming winter. but
also because "the violation of the terms
Of your solemn obligation impairs your
good name, destroys the confidence
which is the basis of all mutual agree
ment and threatens the very foundation
OF fair industrial relations"
Pointing out that the United Mine
Workers constituted the largest single
labor organization in the world, the
President said: "No organization could
long endure that sets up its own
strength as being superior to it's
plighted faith or its duty to society at
large"
The Presidents telegram follows:
ut IS with feeling of profound re-
gret and sorrow that | have learned
that many Of the members of your or
ganization, 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 government
that the findings of the commission
would be accepted by you as final and
binding.
Good Name Impaired
81 am distressed not only because
your action in refusing to mine coal
upon the terms which you had ac-
cepted may result in great suffering in
many households during the coming
winter and interfere with the continual
ton Of industrial and agricultural &C
tivity, which is the basis of the pros
perity which you in common with the
balance Of our people have been en-
joying, but also, and what is of far
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