Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-07-31

Inequalities Ii the existing wage scale
held By the strike leaders to be the
cause of the walkout which has closed
most of the bituminous mines in the two
states-may exist the president said.
He added that he could not recommend
correction of any inequalities until the
strikers returned to their jobs but that
when they did so he would invite the
Joint scale committee Of operators and
miners to meet for the purpose of adj
justing any such inequalities.
The president issued his appeal in the
form Of telegram addressed 70 the
United Mine Workers of America after
he had studied report on the coal stu
alton submitted by Secretary of Labor
Wilson.
Reports Cause Distress.
Reports of the strikes of mine labor
ers, particularly in Illinois, the president
said, had been received by him with
feeling Of regret and sorrow He de-
elared that he was distressed, not only
because failure at this time to mine
coal in accordance with the terms of
the existing contract would result in
suffering during the coming winter, but
also because the violation of the terms
of your solemn obligation impairs your
good name, destroys the confidence which
is the basis of all mutual agreement and
trial relations"
Pointing out that the United Mine
Workers constituted the largest single
labor organization in the world the
president said, mo organization could
long endure that sets its own strength
as being superior to its plighted faith
or its duty to society at large
The presidents telegram follows:
TT is with feeling of profound
regret and sorrow that I have learned
that many of the members of your or
ganization, particularly in the state OF
Illinois. have engaged in a strike in
violation of the terms of the award of
the bituminous coal committee and your
agreement with the government that the
findings of the commission would be ac-
cepted by you as final and binding. am
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 dur
ing the coming winter. and interfere with
the continuation Of industrial and agri-
cultural 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 obligation
impairs your good name, destroys the
confidence which is the basis of all
mutual agreement. and threatens the
very foundation of fair industrial rela-
tions
No government. no employer, no per-
son having any reputation to protect can
afford to enter into contractual relation
with any organization which systematic
ally or repeatedly violates its contracts.
Largest Organization.
= A
ca is the largest single labor organiza-
ton in the United States. if not in the
world. but no organization can long en-
dure 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 for
s>biding by its contracts which has been
one of its most valuable assets in making
wage agreemnts 1t may now make
temporary gains by taking advantage OF
the dire necessities of the balance of the
people through the violation of these con-
tracts, but what of the future? How
can it expect wage contracts with the
employers to be continued In the face oil
such violations. when normal conditions
have been restored and the country free
from immediate shortage of coal how
will it be able to resist the claims OF
tho operators in the future to take ad-
vantage of ths precedent which the min
ers have established and decrease wage
rates in the middle Of a wage contrace
under the plea that they are unable to
sell the coal at the existing cost of pro-
siuctions A mere statement of the qnes-
tion ought TO be sufficient to awaken
fhe mine workers to the dangerous
course they are pursuing and the in
iuries they are infhcting upon them
salves and the country Mt large by the
adoption of the unwarranted strike
pslicies.