The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-01-07
COULD NOT WHIP GOVERNMENT SAYS SECRETARY Believe Miners Will Affirm Action of National
 Officers PUBLIC SENTIMENT WAS AGAINST STRIKE pr. Garfield Comes In for Scathing Criticism
 By Green

Columbus, O., Jan. 7.---Acting Pres 1dent John l.. Lewis was to address the international convention of the United Mine Workers of America at it's closing session here today in de- fense of the action of the national officers in accepting President Will sons proposal for the settlement of the strike, after the miners had re- fused to return to work in obedience to the mandate of Federal Judge An derson of Indianapolis.
 It was the consensus of opinion that following Lewis address, the conven-. tion would vote Ito affirm the action of the officers and thereby agree to abide by the decision of the coal con- mission, appointed by the president, to effect a final settlement.
 Secretary William Green told the 2,1O0 delegates last Tuesday that there was nothing that they could do, ''but accept or face disaster and de- feat after the federal government had determined to use all the forces at it's command to compel resumption of work in the mines.
 we could whip the operators but we could not, if we had wanted to, have whipped the strongest govern ment on the face of the earth-our government which has just finished
 
 With all the mining communities honeycombed with federal agents gathering evidence against our men, our funds tied up, every officer of the organization threatened with ar rest and our women and children fac ing starvation, how in the name of God could we have continued the strike?'' Green asked.
 Delegates indicated their approval
 4I,4 0fFo 1r1 prolonged applause of Greens speech.
 Green declared public sentiment was so strong against the miners af- ter the government had taken the stand it did that the public would have approved anything the govern ment might have done.
 Public sentiment was such,' he declared, that if your officer had been taken out and backed up against stone wall and shot, the public would have applauded."
 The decision to order the men back to work was not made, Green said, until after the president had spoken in the conference at Washington be- tween himself and MT. Lewis with Attorney General Palmer and Secre- tary Tumu1ty.
 It was at this conference that the Presidents proposal of 14 per cent. advance and the appointment of a crease was accepted, subject to the approval of the national executive board and scale committee.
 we have the guarantee of the President of the United States that equal justice will be done through this commission said Green, "and I have firm faith in this commission" he added.
 Green expressed the hope that the commission, which he said had all the powers of the fuel administration, would be able to grant the miners an increase in wages and a shorter work ing day without increasing the selling price of coal
 Dr. Garfield, former federal fuel administrator was severely criticized by Green.
 After refusing the miners an in crease in wages a year ago, Green said, Garfield when backed into a corner'' had admitted the operators could pay IA per cent. advance without increasing the price of coal
 Garfield was so displeased with the presidents proposal, Green said, that he got mad and quit.''
 After that I knew we had done the right thing in accepting the pro- posal,' Green declared
 An unsuccessful attempt was made in the convention late Tuesday to postpone approval of the presidents s proposal until after the commission has made its finding. The interna- tiona1 oicers pointed out that there could be no arbitration unless both sides agreed to abide by the decision of the arbitrator