Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-05
LEWIS CALLS j. S.
MINE step UNJUST
Reports to Union Convention
That He Yielded to the
Inevitable
HAS HOPE IN COMMISSION
BY. the Associated Press

Columbus. o., Jan. international
officers of the United Mine Workers of
America, in agreeing to declare the re-
cent miners strike at an end, decided
to submit to the inevitable, though pro-
testing in our hearts against what we
believed to be the unjust attitude of
our government" according to the re-
port of acting President John l.. Lewis
and Secretary Treasurer William Green
at the special miners convention here
today.
The report reviews the miners con
troversy from the date of the Cleveland
convention up to the present time, Few,
if any. developments not already made
the slightest hint that another strike
is contemplated.
The international officers in their re-
port state that high hopes" are en-.
tertained that the decisions to be reached
by the commission of three appointed by
President Wilson will be fair and just
as to meet with the general approval
of our membership. Members of the
commission are highly praised and de-
clared to be "men of high character,
trained in the consideration of indus
trial questions.
Test With Government
International officers, the report
states, realized better than the mem,
bership Of our unions the purpose and
determination of the federal govern
ment" and decided to accept the plan
proposed by President Wilson, which
called for an immediate increase OF Ia
per cent. The original demands of the
miners called for an increase of 6O per
cent in wages.
At the time the acceptance was made,
the report continues, it was pointed out
to the miners leaders that the strike
had passed from mere controversy be-
tween operators and miners over the
question of wages to an issue between
the supremacy of law and the ability
of the government to enforce its man
dates and DEGREES.
'In other words. il was no longer
controversy between employer and en-
ployc, but instead test between the
strength of a group of working men ana
the government ITSELF
The report states that at the time OF
the Cleveland convention, when the
strike order was tentatively issued, mo
one could foresee the turn events have
taken and the necessity in meeting the
new and unexpected situation which
have arisen. 1t has been found quite
impossible to follow the rigid and in
flexible policy laid down at the Cleve-
land convention. We have been forced
to adjust ourselves to a changed situa
ton, not contemplated or considered
when the original plans and policies
were adopted.
The Lever law. a wartime measure,
is still in effect. Under its provisions
the government exercised it's wartime
r,,lI, h. lo
judicial, military, legislative and execu-
tive branches Of the government.
Declare Course Justified
"Thc court construed the Lever law
to mean that where two men agreed to
quit mining coal they were guilty of
conspiracy and subject to the punish
ment of the Lever law.
1--WE are confident that it was not
generally understood by our member
ship that these wartime measures were
still in effect or that the Lever law de-
MED our membership the right to strike
or applied to them in any way what
soever.
1--WE have cndeavored to meet the
most trying situations ever presented
to the officers of a labor organization,
in broad -mipdd, constructive way.
We could not afford, at any time, to
substitute feeling for Judgment when our
reasoning powers dictated right course
of action.
1--WE would be unfit to lead you or to
act for you if we did not decide in
crisis to follow policy which our best
Judgment convinced us ould best protect
the interests of our vast membership
and those dependent upon them. We
have made our decisions based upon
existing circumstances and facts. We
are confident that time will vindicate
our every act and justify the course we
have pursued -