The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-09-10
Refuses to Reopen Anthracite
Wage Award Hearings.
Warns Miners Against Breaking
Their Union Contracts.
WILLING TO ACCEPT CHALLENGE
Reminds Unions of American
Foreign Policy.
War With Germany Because of
Double Dealing.

Washington, Sept. 10.-President
Wilson today refused to reopen the
anthracite wage award as requested
by anthracite miners, many of whom
are on an unauthorized strike
The refusal was made in a letter TO
miners Representatives on the Joint
scale committee of miners and oper-
ators.
The president reminded the miners
that this government had fought Ger
many, and refused to recognize Rus
STA, because those governments could
not keep their word. He indicated
the same procedure would be followed
toward the miners, who, he said, failed
to live up to their contracts.
The president also recalled that he
had warned the miners not to strike,
and that he had replied to their
threats TODD so, with statement that
their challenge would be accepted.
Miners Are Reminded.
The letter continued:
You ask me to convene the Joint
scale committee of anthracite opera
tors and miners for the purpose of ad-
justing certain inequalities which you
assert exist lin the award of the an
thracite coal commission. In that
connection your attention is called to
a telegram which sent to Enoch Will
liams and others in reply to a telegram
I received from them stating that the
working Until set aside the award of
the anthractteacoal commission before
September 1. In that telegram I said.
4" If your communication declaring
your intention to refrain from work
ing unless I set aside the award of the
anthracite coal commission on or be-
fore Septem Der 1,%1920, is intended as
a threat, you can rest assured that
your challenge will be accepted and
that the people of the United States
will find some substitute fuel to tide
them over until the real sentiment of
the anthracite mine workers can find
expression and they are ready to abide
by the obligations they have entered
into
Notwithstanding the pain warning
contained in that telegram which was
given wide publicity, the majority of
the anthracite coal miners, following
the leadership of these men, have re-
Trained from work under the guise of
taking a vacation In doing so they
have not deceived anyone-not even
themselves. When a body of men
collectively refrain from working by
mutual understanding, however ar
rived at. it is a strike. no matter what
name may be given to it."
Mus. Protect Solemn Agreement.
"Our people have fought great
war and made untold sacrifices to in
sure. among other things. that a
solemn agreement shall not be con-
sidered as a mere scrap of paper. We
have declined to enter into mere
friendly relations with governments
which boast of readiness to violate
treaties when it suits their own con-
Venience, and under these circum-
stances we could not look the world
in the face or justify our action to
our own people or to our own con-
science if we yielded one iota to the
mon in the anthracite coal fields who
are violating the contract so recently
entered into between themselves. the
coal operators and the government of
the United States.
Il appreciate the earnestness of
your efforts to get the men to return
to work and commend your stand in
support of obligation of your contract
which all men must honor. but for
reasons stated above, I regret that
cannot grant your request to recon-
vene- the joint scale committee of
miners and operators"