The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1920-05-27
WARNS COAL MEN
NOT To STRIKE
President Wilson Notifies Miners
and Operators.
OFFERS TO NAME COMMISSION
Executive Tells Members of Joint
Scale Body if They Fail to Reach
Agreement He Will Take
Action.


Washington, May 24.-Anthracite
operators and miners were warned by
President Wilson that there must be
no strike In the anthracite 'coal filds
during 'Iis critical period,
Writing to the members of the joint
scale committee, which has been con
Quoting negotiations for two months,
The president said that if they should
be unable to reach an agreement he
would insist that the questions In dis
pute be submitted to the determine
ton % commission to be appointed
by him, and that work he continued
in the mines pending the decision Of
the commission: He added that the
award to be made would be retroac-
tive TO April /, the date of the eXpi-
ration of the old agreement between
Tie operators and miners.
Wilson Ready to Act.
The president said he would hold
himself in readiness to appoint COM
mission similarly constituted to the
one which | recently appointed in con
nectiou with the btumnous mining in
dustry as soon as | learn that both
sides have Signified their willingness
to continue at work and abide by its
decisions"
In making public the presidents let
ter Secretary Wilson, who has been in
mi h,
mittee at the department of labor for
the last three weeks, said he was
confident that when the committee
recpnyened Thursday 1t will either
yeach mutual agreement or the ques-
ton in dispute will be submitted to
commission as suggested by the presl-
dent.
There viii be no strike in the an
thracite coal fields" he said
The secretary added that represent
tativeS Of the miners would present
the presidents letter to their conven-
ton at Wilkesbarre. Pa, Monday The
presidents letter follows:
81 have watched with more than
passing interest your efforts to nego-
tate a new wage scale for the anthra-
cite coal fields. The arrangement to
continue work ut the mines after April
J pending the adoption of new agree
ment was highly commendabe and
filed MS all with hope that new con
tract would be mutually worked out.
Il have, however. been advised that
there is a possibility you may not
come to an agreement. | am sure |
need not remind you that we have not
yet recovered from the economic
losses incident to the war. We need
the fullest productivity of our people
to restore and maintain their own eco
monte standards and to assist in the
rehabilitation of Europe.
Strike Would Be Serious.
"A strike at any time in a great
hasic industry like anthracite coal
mining would be Il very disturbing
Ing factor in our lives and industries
To have one take place now while we
are actively engaged in the problems
Of reconstruction would be serious
disaster.
II am not familiar with the tech
Hical problems affecting the making of
your wage scale. You are. You
should therefore be able to effect an
agreement, If for any reason you are
unable to do so | shall insist that the
matters In dispute be submitted to the
determination Of a commission to be
appointed by me, the award of the
commission to be retroactive to April
!, in accordance with the arrangement
you have already entered into. and
that work be continued at the mines
pending the decision of the commits
sion.
II snail hold myself IN readiness 70
appoint commission similarly con
siituted 10 the one which | recently an
pointed in connection with the blum
nous coal mining industry as soon as
] learn that both sides have signified
their willingness to continue at work
and abide by its decisions"