Show J I Autocracy in America I I T r HOSE HOS who do not b believe lieve that autocracy exists in this country 1 should r read ad the following declaration by the acting president jf f the United Mine Workers of America i I eel 1 am not saying whether I 1 can or whether I cannot it h 6 off the strike now that it has been ordered The Theis is is not what I can do but will do And so far farY faram fari i Y t tM X am concerned the soft coal miners miners' will quit Friday at midnight And so the destinies of more than a hundred million people v rv Sp 9 far as their comfort during the coming win winter r months and of feir industries and needed employment during this period are conned con- con ned are in the hands of one man and he accidentally filling the position of head pf the union of coal miners as the result of the he e nf death of the president of the organization L v It is difficult to conceive of a more more autocratic on n the part even of Lenine or in m their autocratic rule of r te Russia Russi The brazen effrontery of this man in in practically Announcing that he has the power by speaking a single word of Cite one ne syllable to to prevent the threatened str strike ke and then in the Same ame br breath ath declare that he will do nothing to prevent it it is sufficient sufficient t ent ground for the suspicion that he is nothing more nor less than thana a menace to the American government As pr previously ly declared it is question as as to o the rights of f coal coal miners to organize and t j R for a six-hour six day and a five-day five week with an increase of of cent in wages or whether for a one-hour one day and a one one-da e a with with a s still ill further in increase in- in crease rease in wages but it is one OIe that the suffering of of millions millions mil mil- lions of people during a long period of of extremely cold old weather and the disruption of American industries when not only the workers of this country need employment but millions of unfortunates of strIcken Var Europe are In dire need of fuel and other products of fh his s country This Is a democratic nation and autocracy from whatever source source It may originate must not be tolerated |