Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-31
WILSON DEMANDS
THAT COAL MINERS
RETURN TO WORK
President Will Not Con-
slider REIMBURSEMENT
Until They Do So.
"a
SUFFERING CAUSED BY
THE ILLEGAL WALKOUT.
Union Flatly Told That It Has
Broken Faith With the
American Public.
UsT HONOR CONTRACTS
Will Not Call Joint Scale Com.
mittcc to Meet Until Mining
Is Resumed.
MUST HONOR CONTRACTS
Will Not Call Joint Scalc Com.
mittcc to Meet Until Mining
Is Resumed.
lBy Universal scrviccl

Wilson. in telegram addressed to
the members of the United Mine
Workers of America. today took cog
nizancc of the Illinois strike with a
demand that the vitality necessary
mining of coal be resumed before he
will ask the Bituminous Coal Com
mission to consider inequalities in
the wage award.
Tho Presidents telegram, made
public late this evening, pledges the
miners that in event of their return
TO work, he will invite the scale
committees of the operators and
miners TO rcconvene for the purpose
of adjusting any such inequalities as
they mutually agree should be ad-
justed.
The Presidents action on the coal
situation obviously was guided by
the report Of Secretary OF Labor will
son. who investigated the situation
in Illinois and Indiana.
Violates Terms OF Award.
Without mincing any words, tho
President let the miners know his
disapproval OF tho strike 'in yioli-
ton OF the terms OF the award OF
the Bituminous Coal Commission and
your agreement with the govern
ment.' He pictured the result in
suffering and Interference with "in-
dastrial and agricultural activity.
which is the basis OF the prosperity
which you in common with the bal
ance or our our people have been en-
1oying." He polluted out that the,
United Mine Workers of America as
the largest single labor organization
had duty TO society at large and
reputation which cannot long endure
IL sets up It's own strength as
oeins superior to its pliGhted faith"
During the afternoon d. B. Wrntz.
president OF the National Coal Asso-
ciation' representing two-thlrds OF
the operators of the country. and J.
u. n. MORROW, vice president of the
association. conferred with the Pres:-
dents secretary. Joseph p. Tumuity
Their expressed attitude was fer
dealing with the miners only alter
ihcy had returned to work. Tho
residents telegram, which carried
out the IDEA. read in full as follows:
President Wilson's Telegram.
1t Is with feeling OF profound
regret and sorrow that have learn
ed that many OF the members OF your
organization. particularly in the
State of Illinois, have engaged In n
strike in violation of the terms~of
the award OF the Bituminous Coal
Commission and your agreement
with the government that the findings
or the commission would be accepted
by you as final and binding.
I 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 COM
Ing winter and interfere with tho
continuation OF Industrial and agrl-
cultural activity. which is the basis
OF the prosperity which you, in com
mon with the balance OF our people,
rave been enjoying. but also, and
whae IS OF FAR moro Importance to
you' because the violation of the
terms OF your solemn obligation i'm
PAIRS your own good name, destroys
the confidence which is the basis OF
all mutual agreements and threatens
the very foundation OF fair inGus-
trial relations.
NO government, no employer. no
person having any reputation to pro-
tect. can afford to enter into con-
tractual relations with any organizes
ton that repeatedly o: systematically
violates its contracts.
UnWnrrnntcd Strike Policies.
The United Mine Workers of
America is the largest single ,ahor
organization in the United states. if
not in the world, but no orpani,,t;on
can long endure that sets up it's own
hof
pHShted faith or its duty to society
a' large. 1t mas in the past built up
an enViaole reputation for abiding by
us contracts, which has been one of
us most valuable assets In making
""se agreements. 1t may now make
temporary gains by taking advantage
OF the dire necessities Of the balance
or the people through tho violation
or these contracts. but what Of the
future?
How can 1t expect wage contrse,s
with the employers to be cont,nueJ.
In the face OF such violations. when
normal conditions have been restored
ana the country is free from TIE
rear OF immediate shortage OF coa,y
How wall 1t be- able to resist th.
claims OF the operators in the future
who take advantage OF the precedent
which the nincrs have established
and decrease wage rates in the mid
die OF wage contract under the plea
that they are unable 10 sell the coal
at tho then existing cost OF produce
tiof?
~ mere statement OF these oaey-
lions ought to he sufficient to awakcn s
the mine workers to the dangerous
,(contInued on Second Pago-y