Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-07-25
tsr MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wrsss

hoNNtNG JOURNAL SPECIAL ltbttp WlNt -
Indianapolis. Ind, July 24--Pos-
sibility of general strike of
bituminous coal miners through
the central competitive field was
revealed in a statement given out
here tonight by John l.. Lewis,
president of the United Mine
Workers of America. regarding the
strike now in progress in the Illi-
nois field.
Any settlement of the Illinois
strike which would modify the
basic interstate agreement under
which the miners of the central
field are now working would re-
suit in action by the national Of
ficers to enforce an immediate
shutdown of all the bituminous
mines, involving a strike Of 210,-
600 men, Mr.. Lewis said.
Mr.. Lewis declined TO amplify
his statement. declaring that he
considered it self explanatory. His
statement follows;
THE present situation in the
Illinois coal fields is directly
chargeable to the lamentablc
blunder of the United States BIZ
luminous coal commission, which,
in it's majority award, failed to
provide adequate compensation
for certain classifications of mine
workers. This away was affirm
ed by President Wilson over the
protest of the national officers of
the United Mine Workers and in
violation of the pledges Of the
United States government the JUS
tice would be rendered the miners.
Since the rendition of the
award the mine workers in most of
the coal producing fields have
been employed but a small per-
centage of time due to the miser-
able breakdown of the nations
transportation facilities. In the
meantime the coal operators are
charging unprecedented prices for
coal and are enthusiastically en-
gaging in what one may term the
sun dance of the profiteers. In
certain sections coal is selling at
the outrageous and indefensible
price of from $1l to sl2 ton f. o. b.
mines. The American public is
being sandbagged by these daring
commercial vandals who stagger
beneath their loot. When the
basic wage agreement between the
miners and operators was consum-
mated on March 81. the represent
atives of the mine workers at that
time attempted to secure the ac-
quiescence of the operators In an
arrangement which would give
justice to the day workers and
monthly men.
Operators Repulsed Efforts.
Their efforts were repulsed by
the coal operators since when tlme
the United Mine Workers nave IN
every way assumed the obligations
of the wage agreement to Whlch
the Illinois operators are party.
The publicity expressed desire OF
the Illinois operators to now amend
the wage agreement has not been
officially transmitted to the otfl-
GERS of the national union which
has supervision over such matters.
"If a settlement is made in Him
ois which modifies the basic inter-
state agreement, prompt action Will
be taken by this office to force an
immediate shutdown of all mines
operating in the central compeu-
tive fields involving some 10000
men until similar notifications to-
gether with other improvements as
arranged for in the other coal pro-
ducing states"
Mr.. Lewis would not discuss the
calling of a general strike as
possibility if the miners of Illinois
negotiate separate agreement
with the operators Of the state.
Immediately following the an
nouncement of the agreement be-
tween the operators and miners
officials last March, which agree
ment was made on the basis OF the
coal strike settlement commission,
there were sporadic strikes or
company men, or day men through
out the central competitive field. |
These men perform the labor Incl
dental to mining of coal. They de-
clared that they were not given in
creases commensurate with those
granted the other workers in the
mines.