Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-31

miners in an effort to show them the
weakness Of their own position and to
gain from them a reputation of the
action threatened in the telegram.
The Presidents Telegram
The White House,
Washington, August 30.
"Enoch Williams, chairman; Martin
McDonough, Lewis Davis, Garfield
Lewis, Rinaldo Capellini, 305 West
Taylor street, Taylor, Pa:
Replying to your telegram Of Au-
gust 20, your attention is particularly
directed to the following language con
tanned in the minority report of Mr..
Ferry, Of the Anthracite Coal Commits. {.
sion:
" In conclusion, Mr.. President, we
wish to say as we did in the beginning
that the majority report shall have the
full, practical acceptance of the officers
Of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea, and we shall devote ourselves to its
application, as we obligated ourselves to
do when we submitted our cause to this
commission
That was the manly and honest
thing for Mr.. Ferry to do. He cour-
ageously sets forth his views in the
minority report and then just as cour-
ageously declares he will abide by the
decision of the majority, as the miners
had obliged themselves to do. It should
be understood that there was no agree
ment between the operators and miners
to have me decide the questions at
issue.
with the many other important
duties devolving upon me I could not
have devoted the time necessary to
hear and digest all Of the evidence pre-
sented. I. therefore, proposed the crea-
ton of a commission whose findings
would be binding upon both parties.
The representatives of the miners on the
scale committee declined to accept the
suggestion until it had been submitted
to a convention of the United Mine
Workers of Districts /, 7 and 8. In
that convention, by vote OF the men
direct from the mines, a resolution was
adopted accepting the proposition and
solemnly oblisating the mine workers
to abide by the award. BY all the laws
Of honor, on which civilization rests'
that pledge should be fulfilled.
Collective Bargaining at Stake
"Any intimation that the anthracite
mine workers will refuse to work under
the award because it does not grant
them all that they expected is a rehec'
ton upon the sincerity of the men VINO
constitute the backbone of the COM
munity in which they live. Collective
bargaining would soon cease to exist
in Industrial affairs if contracts SOL
emnly entered into can be set aside oy
either party whenever it wills to do so.
I am sure that the miners themselves
would vigorously protest against the In :
Justice of the act if the President at
tempted to set aside the award OIL the
commission because the operators had
protested against 1t. -,
MAY I add that I am personally
and officially interested in promoting
the welfare of every man who mas 70
work for a living. Every influence Oh
nv administration has been exercised 10
improve the standards OF living OF tne
nations working men and women WIN
out doing any injustice to other poru0nS
of our people. A large part OF the 90 :
mestic fuel supply Of the eastern STATES
;s denendent upon the continued opera =
tion of the anthracite coal mines. ANY
prolonged stoppage Of production Will
mean hardship and suffering to many
people. including millions OF wage
workers and their families.
.Yet IL YOUR communication, de-
claring your intention to refrain from
working unless set aside the award
of the Anthracite Coal Commission on
or before September l, 1920, 1t, In,
tended as threat, you can be assured
that YOUR challenge will be accepted
and that the people of the United
States will find some substitute fuel To
tide them over until the real sentiment
Of the anthracite mine workers can find
expression and they are ready to abide
by the obligations they have entered
into.
You are. therefore. advised that !
cannot and will not set aside the judg-
ment of the commission, and l shall ex =
pect the anthracite mine workers to ac-
Cept the award and carry 1t into effect
in good faith.
WOODROW WILSON,"
Pottsville, Pa, Aug. I.-While in :
surgent mine leaders here were prepar
ing for a strike today, business interests
were trying 70 have the order held in
allegiance. Merchants of Pottsville,
TamaQua, Shenandoah, Mahanoy City
and Ashland are opposed to strike
and declare it will take long struggle
to induce President Wilson TO accept
the minority report Of the wage com
mission. after he has openly indorsed the
majority decision. 1t also is pointed
out that the miners, in a strike at
present. would for the first time have
nuhlic sentiment Errayed against them