| Show STRIKE CERTAIN MINERS A ADAM DAMANT ANI By Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS Oct 30 The The fol followIng following following fol- fol lowing statement was Issued at headquarters headquarters head head- quart quarters r of ot the United Mine Workers yesterday The conference of ot United Mine MineWorkers Workers composed of ot members of ot the international executive board the scale committee of the central competitive district and the district presidents United d Mine Workers of ot America gave most profound consideration to the thet statement of the president of ot the United States which appeared in the public press recently relative to the Impending strike of bituminous us miners miners miners min min- ers set for tor November 1 No communication was received by bythe bythe bythe the international officers of or the United Mine Workers of America from either the president or any representative of ot the federal government I A canvass of the entire situation I shows that a strike of bituminous minera miners min miners min min- ers era cannot be avoided A regularly constituted convention of ot representatives tives of ot the United Mine Workers held at Cleveland 0 O on September 25 or ordered ordered ordered or- or dered a a. strike of ot bituminous mine mineworkers mineworkers workers to become effective November 1 in the event a wage scale was not negotiated neg before that time The highest authority in to the organIzation organization organization organ organ- has acted in this manner and no representatives of ot the organization have authority to set Bet such aside The facts are that the same supreme authority which ordered the pending strike Is the same as that which ap approved approved approved ap- ap proved the contract which has expired UNION BLAMES OPERATORS The responsibility for the strike I Is with the coal operators They have haw refused to negotiate a wage agreement agreement agreement agree agree- ment notwithstanding the fact the mine workers workers' representatives have urged and beseeched them to do so The fundamental causes which prompted the mine workers to take this drastic action are deep For two years their wages have remained stationary They appealed one year ago agoto agoto agoto to the federal fuel administrator Dr Garfield and from Crom him to the president president president dent of ot the United States for an in in- in crease In wages sufficient to meet the Increased cost of ot necessaries of life Their repeal was rejected d and their request refused Notwithstanding this they continued mining co coal l until now their contract expires when hen they are determined that their grievances must be adjusted In a reasonably s satisfactory satisfactory tory manner The courts courts have bae held that the workingmen workingmen work- work ingmen have a right to strike and may quit work either singly or collectively for the purpose of ot redressing grievances grIevances grievances ances and righting wrongs The Tha constitution constitution constitution con con- and guarantees of this free government give men the right to work or quit work Individually or col col- col- col EXER EXERCISING SING RIGHT ine workers therefore are but cx ex A Athe the right guaranteed by the cons cons' lIon ion and und which cannot be taken away by the representatives of ot government government government govern govern- ment when they quit work or when they refuse to work until their grievances grievances grievances ances are adjusted The mine workers' workers representatives are ready willing ana ann anxious to meet the coal operators for tor the purpose of negotiating an agreement and bringing bringing bringing bring bring- ing about a a. settlement of ot the present unhappy situation They will respond at any time to toa toa a a. call for tor such a meeting and will honestly honestly honestly hon hon- estly endeavor to work out a wage agreement upon a fair and equitable basis which agreement alone will put the mines In operation and guarantee the nation an adequate supply of ot coal We assert that the mine workers have no other purpose in view view other other than to secure a working wage agree agree- ment All of their demands are Incorporated in incorporated incorporated In- In in their wage proposal submitted submitted submitted sub sub- to the coal operators and each and all are subject to negotiation Conscious of the grave responsibility responsibility responsibility resting upon the representatives of the coal miners we have no other alternative than to carry out the instructions in instructions instructions in- in of ot the United Mine Workers Workers' convention con The issue has been made madl and if It It must be settled upon the field of industrial battle the responsibility rests fairly and squarely upon the coal barons alone |
