Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1920-07-31
fRy The Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, ID. C., July 81
President Wilson. through the United
Mine Workers of America, last night
appealed to striking mine laborers ir
Illinois and Indiana to return TO work
Inequalities in the existing wagc
scale-held by strike leaders to be
the cause of the walk-out which clos
ed most Of the bi.uminous coal mines
In the two states, may exist. the pres
ident said. He added that he could
not recommend correction of any IN.
eaualities until the strikers returned
to their jobs, but that when they did
he would invite the joint scale con-
mittee of operators and miners 10
meet for the purpose of adjusting any
such inequalities.
The president telegraphed his an
America after he had studied report
on the coal situation submitted by
Secretary of Labor Wilson.
Reports of strikes Of mine laborc>.s.
particularly in Illinois. the president
said. had been received by him with
tN'ttiE VI fteltl anu SbfIuN.
declared that he was distressed not
only because failure to mine coal in
accordance with the terms Of the ex-
listing contract would result in suffer
ing 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 agree
ment and threatens the very founda-
tion of fair industrial relations"
Pointing out that the United Mine
Workers constituted the largest single
labor organization in the world, the
president said ''no organization could
long endure that sets up its own
strength as being superior to its
plighted faith or its duty to society
at large" The presidents telegram
follows:
1T is with feeling Of profound
regret and sorrow that have learned
th,a MY members of your organiza-
tion. particularly in the state of Illi-
nois. have engaged in a strike in viola
tion of the terms of the award of the
bitumlnous coal committee and your
agreement with the government tina;
the findings Of the commission would
be accepted by you as final and bind
ing. am distressed not only becaus..
your action. in refusing to mine coal
upon the terms which you had ac-
cepted. may result in great sufferings
in many households during the com
inE winter and interfere with the con-
tinuation of industrial and agricul-
tural industry, which is the base of
the prosperity which you i'm common
with the remainder of our people have
been enjoying. but also, and what is Of
far more Importance, because the vio-
lation of the terms of your solemn OBJ
legation impairs your good name, de-
stroys the confidence which is the
basis Of all mutual agreement and
threatens the very foundation of fair
industrial relations. No government,
no employer. no person having any
reputation 10 protect can afford to en-
ter into contraotual relation with any
organization which Systematically or
repeatedly violates its contracts.
"The United Mine Workers of
America is the largest single labor or
ganization in the United States if not
in the world. but no organization can
long endure that sets up its own
strength as being superior to its
plighted faith or its duty to society at
large. II mas in the past built up an
enviable reputation for abiding by its
contracts. which has been one Of its
most valuable assets in making wage
agreements. II may now make tenn
pcrary gains by taking advantage of
the dire necessities of the remainder
Of the people through the violation of
. these contracts. but what of the fu-
ture? How can it expect wage con-
tracts with the employer to be con-
tinued. in the face of such violations,
when normal conditions have been
restored and the country is free from
the immediate shortage of coal? How
will it be able to resist the claims of
operators in the future to take ad-
vantage of the precedent which the
miners have established and decrease
wage rates in the middle of wage
contract under the plea that they are
unable to sell the coal at the then ex-
listing cost Of production! A mere