Evening star., 1920-01-07
MINERS HELPLESS,
LEADER DECLARES
If Officers Had Been Shot,
Public Would Have Ap-
pIauded, He Says.

| COLUMBUS, Ohio, January (by
the Associated Press).-Acting Presi-
dent John L. Lewis was scheduled to
| address the international convention
| of the United Mine Workers Of Amer
| lea, at it's closing session here to-
| day, in defense of the action of the
| national officers in accepting Presi-
| dent Wilson's proposal for the settle
| ment of the strike after the miners
| had refused to return to work in
obedience to the mandate of Federal
| Judge Anderson of Indianapolis.
1t was the consensus of opinion that
| following Lewis address the conven-
ton would vote to affirm the action of
the officers and thereby agree to
abide by the decision of the coal COM
mission. appointed by the President, to
effect final settlement.
Secretary William Green told the
2.100 delegates late Tuesday that
there was nothing else they could do
but accept or face disaster and de-
feat" after the federal government
had determined to use all the forces
at its command to compel resumption
of work in the mines.
| I'VE could whip the operators, but
we could not, if we had wanted to,
have whipped the strongest govern
government, which has just finished
whipping Germany" said Green.
With all the mining communities
honeycombed with federal agents
gathering evidence against our men,
our funds tied up, every officer of
the organization threatened with ar
rest and our women and children fac
ing starvation. how in the name of
God could we have continued the
strike" Green asked.
| Delegates Applaud Speech.
| Delegates indicated their approval
OF the action taken by the officers by
prolonged applause Of Green's speech
Green declared public sentiment
was so strong against the miners
after the government had taken the
stand 1t did that the public would
have approved anything the govern
ment might have done.
| public sentiment was SUCH" he de-
clared, that If your officers had been
taken out and backed up against a
stone wall and shot, the public would
have applauded."
The decision to order the men back
to work was not made, Green said.
until after the President had spoken
IN the conference at Washington be-
tween himself and Mr.. Lewis with At
torney General Palmer and Secre-
tary Tumulty.
1t was at this conference that the
Presidents proposal Of IA per cent
advance and the appointment of a
commission to consider further in
crease was accepted, subject to the
approval of the national executive
board and scale committee.
we have the guarantee Of the
PRESIDENT OF the United States that
equal justice will be done through
this commission" said Green, "and l
have firm faith in this Commission +"
he added
Greene expressed the hope that the
commission, which he said had all the
powers Of the fuel administrator.
would be able to grant the miners an
increase in wages and a shorter work
day without increasing the selling
price of coal.
DR.. Garfield Criticized.
Dr.. Garfield, former federal fuel ad-
ministrator, was severely criticised
by Green. After refusing the miners
an increase in wages a year ago.
Green said. Garfield. when backed
INTO corner" had admitted the oper-
ators could pay II per cent increase
F! without Increasing the price of COAL
Garfield was SO displeased with the
PRESIDENTS proposal, Green said, that
| he got mad and quit"
| After that knew we had done the
right thing in accepting the proposal"
Green declared.
An unsuccessful attempt was made
In the convention late Tuesday to
postpone approval of the Presidents
proposal until after the commission
has made its finding. The interna-
tional officers pointed out that there
could be no arbitration unless both
sides agreed to abide by the decision
of the arbitrators.
West Virginia Appeal.
West Virginia delegates made a
strong appeal to the convention to
sustain the action of the officers. Law
renee Dwyer. international board
member from West Virginia, declared
that $40 of the local union officials
| in West Virginia had been arrested
under the work or fight" law of
would come to trial next Monday.
III this convention does anything
! else than to sustain the officers in
canceling the strike and accepting
the Presidents proposal those $40 men
will be in Jail next Tuesday" Dwyer
declared.
Andrew Matt. vice president Of the
| Anthracite Miners of Pennsylvania
assured the delegates that the anthra-
! cite miners would be back Of the soft
coal miners if it became necessary
later for them to strike to secure
justice.
I'VE were ready to strike on a min
ute's notice If the international OFF,
GERS had been sent to JAIL" Matt de-
| clared.
Eviction OF Union Miners.
CHARLESTON, w. Va. January z.
Two coal companies, one in Monon-
| gala county and the other in the Lit
tie Coal River section of West Vir-
ginia, have started court proceedings
| to have miners who refused to re-
nounce their union membership evict-
ed from company houses. according to
a statement issued here by William
Blizzard. a vice president of District
No. II. United Mine Workers.
Price Increase at Cleveland.
| CLEVELAND, Ohio, January Am
| increase Of SO cents a ton in the re-
tail price Of coal has been recon-
mended by the Cuyahoga county fair
price committee. Following the rec
ommendation, the coal dealers stated
they would confer with United States
District Attorney Ed Wertz to obtain
federal sanction before raising the
| prices. Reports from ten dealers in
| dicated retailers were operating at an
average profit of one mill on each ton
under federal fuel administration
| prices.
| De Valera. Liberty Hut Tonight
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