Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-31
WILSON DEMA,\
THAT COAL MINERS
RETURN TO WORK
President Will Not Con-
slider Readjustment
Until They Do So.
E7a
SUFFERING CAUSED BY
THE ILLEGAL WALKOUT
Union Flatly Told That It Has
Broken Faith With the
American Public.
MUST HONOR CONTRACTS
Will Not Call Joint Scale Com.
mittcc to Meet Until Mining
Is Resumed.
MUST HONOR CONTRACTS
Will Not Call Joint Scale Com.
mittec to Meet Until Mining
Is Resumed.
Ipy Universal scrricc1

wilson. in telegram addressed to
the memoers OF the United Mine
Workers OF America, today took cog
nizance OF the Illinois strike with a
demand that the vitality necessary
mining of coal be resumed before he
will ask the Bituminous Coal Com
mission to consider Inequalities in
the wage award.
The Presidents telegram, made
public late this evening. pledges tho
miners that in event of their return
10 work, he will invite the scale
committees OF the operators and,
miners to reconvene for the purpose
of adjusting any such inequalities as
they mutually agree should be ad-
justed.
The Presidents action on the coat
situation obviously was guided by
the report Of Secretary of Labor will
son, who investigated tho situation
in Illinois and Indiana.
Violates Terms of Award.
Without mincing any words, tho
President let the miners know his
disapproval of the strike "in yiola-
tion of the terms of the award OF
the Bituminous Coal Commission and
your agreement with the govern
ment.' lie pictured the result in
suffering and interference with 'in-
dnstrial and agricultural activity.
which is the basis OF the prosperity
which you In common with the ball
ance of our our people have been en-
joyins.' He polluted out that tho
United Mine Workers OF America as
the largest single labor organization
had duty to society at large and A
reputation which cannot long endure
il 1t sets up its own strength as
being superior to its plighted faith"
During the afternoon ID. d. Wentz.
president OF the National Coal Aasos
citation, representing two thirds OF
the operators of the country. and 4
ID. a. Morrow, vice-president of the
association. conferred with the Pres.-
dents secretary. Joseph p. Tumufty.
Their expressed attitude was fer
dealing with the miners only ,,ter
they had returned to work. Tht.
Presidents telegram, which carried
out the idea. read in fun as follows:
President Wilson's Telegram.
1T is with Il feeling of profound
regret and sorrow that / have learn
ed that many OF the members OF your
organization. particularly in the
State OF Illinois. have engaged In n
strike in violation Of the terms~oc
the award of the Bituminous CosI
Commission and your agreement
with the government that the findings
or the commission would be accepted
by you as final and binding.
I am distressed. not only because
your action in refusing to mine coal
upon the terms which you had ac-
cepted may result in great suffering
In many households during the COM
Ing winter and interfere with the
continuation OF Industrial and agri-
cultural activity. which Is the basis
or tho prosperity which you, in com
mon with the balance of our people,
haVe been enjoying. but also, and
what Is OF far more Importance to
you. because the violation OF tho.
terms OF your solemn obligation i'm
pars your own good name, destroys
the confidence which is the basis OF
al mutual agreements and threatens
'he very foundation OF fair inGus-
trial relations.
no government. no employer, no
person having any reputation to pro-
tect. can afford to enter into con-
tractual relations with any oreaniza-
uon that repeatedly or systcmatically
violates it's contracts.
CnNurrnnted Strike Policies,
The United Mine workers OF
America is the largest single labor
organization in the United States. it
not In the world. but no organization
can long endure that sets up its own
strength as being superior to IT'S
piighted faith or its duty to society
at large. 1t has in the past built nm
an enviable reputation for abiding by
us contracts, which has been one of
It's most valuable assets In making
wage agreements. 1t may now mako
'emporary gains by taking advantage
OF tho dire necessities OF the balance
or the people through the violation
OF these contracts. but what of tho
future?
How can it expect wage contracts
with the employers to be cont.nuej
III tae lace OF such violations, wheR
h9rmal conditions have been rea.ored
ana inc country Is free from TIE
rear OF immediate shortage OF coa,Y;
How Will 1t bel able to resist tbs
claims OF the operators in the future
who take advantage OF the precedent
which tho miner. have established
and decrease wage rates In tho p,ids9
die of wage contract under the Plea
that they are unable to sell the coal
at tho then existing cost OF proiuo-
ton?
y mere statement OF :hese que,-5
tions ought to be sufficient to awsksn
the nina Workers To fhA dan rarn,.s. -