Omaha daily bee., 1919-11-09
Federal District Court Judge
Commands Officials to Cali
Off Wa|kout and Resume
Operating at Once.
STRIKE IN VIOLATION OF
Wartime FUEL CONTROL
While Not Illegal, Action Of
Men, Under the Circum-
stances, Approaches Rebel
lion, Jurist Says.

ton of the strike order, which, since
midnight of October 81, has kept
100000 union bituminous miners out
of the coal pits of the country, was
ordered by Judge A. B. Anderson
in the federal district court here
today.
Violation of the wartime federal
food and fuel control act, as alleged
by the attorney generals depart
ment, was affirmed by the court.
who said that the strike was not
only illegal, but that under the cir
cumstances it approached rebellion.
Unless the union leaders choose
to defy the court-and there was no
indication tonight of any such in
tention--they can move only to-
wards ending the big walkout. The
courts order was SO worded that
failure to cancel the strike call or
any affirmative word or action tend
ing to "aid and abet" the continu-
ance of the strike, would make them
violators of the injunction and in
contempt of court.
Must Act on Monday.
Tonight. therefore, the union lead
crs are under orders to meet here
Monday, draw up cancellation OF
the strike order, submit it for Judge
Anderson's approval by 10 a: m.
Tuesday, and have notice of it on
the way to all local and district
unions by E p. m. that day. Tele-
grams sumrnoning district presi-
dents of the union and members OF
the executive board and the central
competitive field scale committee to
meet here Monday were dispatched
few hours after Judge Anderson's
sweeping mandate had been issued.
Union officials here would not
comment upon the court action.
"Not word" said John L. Lewis.
acting president Of the big organi
zation, and his colleagues were even
less communicative. A shake of the
head, sometimes accompanied by a
grim smile, was as far as they
wished to go towards indicating
what they though of the situation.
c. B. Ames, assistant attorney
general, who conducted the case for
the government. also smiled, but
more cheerfully than the union men
when asked for comment. and said:
"The decision speaks for itself.
Order Surprises Leaders.
Washington, Nov. 8.-Federal
Judge Anderson's order to the Of
hcers of the miners union to with
draw their strike order was received
by national labor leaders here ap-
parently with surprise. They had
believed the strike could be with
drawn from the court and. settled
outside.
The courts ruling. however. was
accepted without comment, and in
the belief that the strikers would be
1T work not later than next Thurs.
day. The statement by officers of
the United Mine Workers that they
had no desire to fight the govern
ment was accepted generally as the
feeling and attitude of the men,.
Department of Justice officials
said they believed the officers OF the
miners organization who called the
strike would formally issue the can
collation. notice at their meeting in
Indianapolis Monday. Announce
M mt by counsel for the miners that
Acting President Lewis unquestion-
ably would abide by the courts or
der indicated, according to most la
Dor leaders, that the men would re-
turn to work when Lewis directed.
No Change in Situation.
Reports from the mining regions
showed no change in the general
situation although operators claimed
considerable improvement in some
states, particularly Alabama and
West Virginia.
All government agencies charged
with the duty of protecting the
public and seeing that coal reached
points in need of it. went forward
with their plans without regard to
court developments.
The geological survey, i'll its
weekly summary of bitunlinous pro-
duction. showed that up to the mo-
ment they walked out the miners
worked faithfully and in the five
day period up to November ]
turned out the greatest tonnage OF
coal ever mined in similar period
in this country.
Won't Alter Stand.
Pittsburgh. Kas., Nov. 8.-"Re-
gardless of the injunctions, prisons
and judges in the United States. |
will not alter my stand, for l be-
lieve we are right" declared Alex
ander Howat. president Of district
IA, United Mine Workers Of Amer
ica, when questioned as to what
his attitude would be toward the
mandates issued in Indianapolis.
President Howat said this had been
expected and the court order makes
no difference in the situation to
me-.