The Washington herald., 1920-08-31
Minority Report
Turned Down
President Tells Anthracite
Miners Public Insists
On Production.

President Wilson locked horns
with the anthracite coal miners,
yesterday. In a telegram replying
to their demand that he set aside
the majority report OF the wage
commission, granting them in
creases Of II to 20 per cent only,
he said:
IF your communication is a
threat, rest assured it will be &C
cepted."
The President earlier in the day
accepted the award, by which
$4,000 men will receive about
SSs.ooo,ooo a year additional pay
and about SIS.ooo,ooo in back
awards to April !.
Men Pledged TO Accept
President Wilson informed the
miners that they are pledged 20
isccept the award Of the wage COM
mission and that collective bargain
ing will soon cease to egist il con-
tracts solemnly entered into are set
aside at will
4 am personally and oficiatly
interested IN the welfare Of every
man who has TO work for a living"
the President said in his teIegraphic
reply TO the committee representing
! the wiIbes- Barre miners. which had
sent him the ultimatum. Any pro-
lonEed stoppage OF production in
1.-THE anthracite fields will mean
hardship and suffering to many
people. Yet the people Of the
: United States. IL forced TO do so.
will find some substitute for fuel
TO tide them over until the real
sentiment OF the miners can find
! oppression and they arc ready TO
abide by the obligations entered
into. You are therefore advised
that can not and will not set aside
the judgment Of the commission
I In presenting the minority report
Z Neil Perry, representing the miners
I in the commission. said.
Whatever our opinion may be
as 10 the merits Of this report. ve
are fully conscious Of our obIirS-
tion OF honor and good faith in the
/ matter. Tn, officers Of the United
/ Mine Workers will Of course. ac-
/ cept and carry out this majority
award with the most scrupuIous
I care and with the utmos: good faith.
All our onerEi,s and authority.
without reservation. will be devoted
TO this end
/ President Wilson refused TO ac-
ccpt Mr.. Perry's report. few
hours later Secretary Of Labor VIII
son issued a call for a meeting OF
the joint scale committee. which
, will put the new scale into contract
form. It will be held IN Scranton
. Thursday, at 10 a. m
sIS.oOe.OOC in Back Pay.
Among the outstanding points in
the award are:
uD The commission estimates that
under award there is now due to the
miners about SlS.Ouo.OOO in back
ray and that the total increase in
wages 10 the mine workers will
aggregate at least SIS. 600. oOe an
nualIy.
ts) II contends that while pro-
viding improved conditions for the
employees the award offers no justi-
fcation for any advance in the re-
tail prices Of coal. hut on the other
hand is consistent with a decline
in prices.
C3D Contract miners pay is in
creased S. per cent above 1916 rates
! or % per cent above present rates.
Company miners are increased Il per
., cent over present rates. makinE a
minimum rate OF 52lz cents per
\ hour Consideration miners and
miners labOrers are also increased
Il per cent
90 The ciEht-hour day question
for laborers is referred to Board Of
\ Cancellation: demand for time and
half time for overtime and double
time for Sundays Is denied; demand
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO.