The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-07-31
WILSON APPEALS.
LEWIS SUBMITS
Breaking of Contract by
Mine Workers Criti-
cized in Wire.
OPERATORS HERE MEET
Oklahoma Mine Heads Decide
Men Must Abide by Two
Year Contract Term.
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distressed not only because your
action. In refusing TO mine coal upon
the terms which you had accepted.
may result in great suffering in
many households during the coming
winter and interfere with the con-
tinuation OF Industrial and agricul-
tural activity, which is the basis OF
the prosperity which you In common
with the balance of our people have
been enjoying, but also, and what Is
of far more Importance, because the
violation of the terms OF your solemn
obligations impairs your good name.
destroys the confidence which Is the
basis of all mutual agreement, ana
threatens the very foundation OF fair
industrial relations. No government
no employer, no person having any
reputation TO protect, can afford 10
enter into contractual relation win
any organization which systemaucal-
ly or repeatedly violates its contracts,
THE United Mine Workers OK
America is the largest single labor
organization in the United states II
not in the world, but no organiza-
,tion can long endure that sets up
its own strength as being superior
TO its plighted faith or Its duty TO
society at large. 1t has In the past
built up an enviable reputation Tor
abiding by its contracts. which mas
been one of its most valuable assets
in making wage agreements. II may
now make temporary gains by TAX
ing advantage of the dire necessities
of the balance of the people through
- violation of these contracts, but
what of the future? How can IL
expect wage contracts with the EN-
ployer to be continued in the face or
such violations, when normal con-
ditions have been restored and the
country is free from the immediate
shortage of coal? How will 1t be
able to resist the claims of the ope-
rators In the future to take adVan-
. tage OF the precedent which the
Miners have established and de-
,Icrease wage rates in the middle OF
Wage contract under the plea that
they are unable to sell the coal AT
the then existing cost OF produc-
tion? q mere statement OF these
questions ought to be sufficient 10
awaken the mine workers TO the
dangerous course they are pursuing
and the injuries they are inflicung
upon themselves and the country at
large by the adoption OF these un-
warranted strike policies.
I'm the consideration OF the ma
ton wide wage scale, involving
many different classes OF labor by
the bituminous coal commission In
the limited time at its disposal some
inequalities may have developed in
the award that ought to be correct
ed. / cannot, however, recommend
any consideration of such fnequali-
ties so long as the mine workers con-
tinue to strike In violation OF the
terms of the award which they had
accepted as their wage agreement
for definite length OF time. l must
therefore, insist that the striking
miners return to work thereby de-
monstrating their good faith In
keeping their contract. When l
have learned that they have thus
returned to work. I will invite In the
scale committee of the operators
and miners for the purpose OF ad-
justing any such inequalities as they
may mutually agree should be ad-
justed."