Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-11-05
1 AB0R LEADERS
 SAY MINES BE
 CLOSED 4 WEEKS
Other Estimates Are That Strike Will End in Two
 Weeks. PALMER DENIES THAT SUIT BE WITHDRAWN Attorney General Expresses Belief That if Injunction is Sustained Miners Will Resume
 Work

Washington, Nov. 4.-Despite the spirit of hopefulness in official quar- ters that the end of the coal strike was near, spokesmen here for miners and operators declared tonight the country was in for protracted in- dustrial struggle in the bituminous fields.
 Labor leaders estimated that all union mines would remain closed at least four weeks. Other estimates cut that time in half, but officials, although without word of direct ef- forts to bring the two sides together, held firmly to the view that the strike would not run that long.
 There were no confidential reports from department of justice agents in the fields, and reports to Washington headquarters of the operators an- nounced that overnight conditions were unchanged.
 Garfield Takes Charge.
 Fuel Administrator Garfield today took active control of the situation and made ready to fix maximum price of anthracite at the first evil dence of attempts to advance the selling price. Dr. Garfield took part in several conferences, but it was stated officially that he had not dis cussed settlement of the strike with operators.
 J. D. A. Morrow, vice president and executive secretary of the Ma tional Coal association and a forr'er member of the fuel administration staff, was among those who saw Dr. Garfield. The meeting caused wide spread reports that Dr. Garfield had been delegated to act as mediator. Several other members of the fuel administration staff, besides MT. Nor row, saw Dr. Garfield.
 Denies Withdrawal of Suit.
 Attorney General Palmer in let ter today to shipbuilders' council which protested against injunction proceedings, sounded a new note of hope by declaring his belief that if the federal court at Indianapolis Saturday held the strike illegal, the miners, "as law-abiding citizens, will discontinue it." This letter was made public after the attorney gen. erals office had denied report that drawn.
 HI IlIo ICPly CO CHC DcldWdIC SuAp- builders council of Philadelphia, MT. Palmer said the fuel control law was still in force. Touching on his method of dealing with the strike, he said:
 "There were only two ways open to me to enforce the law, one by criminal and the other by civil pro- cess. might have instituted crim- inal prosecutions against hundreds of American citizens. but preferred to believe that in ordering this strike they were not conscious of the fact that they were violating the crimin- al laws of our country and that it would be better to have the ques- tion adjudiciated by the courts in a civil proceeding.
 Arkansas Mines Tight.
 Fort Smith, Nov. 4.-The West Ar kansas coal fields remain absolutely quiet. All miners are out and all mines closed. None of the operators of more than hundred mines are making effort to operate their mines. Both operators and miners, apparent ly, are sitting tight and awaiting g settlement of the strike issue h |other fields.
 The supply of coal is neglible in this city, but there is no grave con- cern. Ninety-seven percent of do- mestic and industrial fuel is natural gas. The supply exceeds consump- tion by 100 per cent.
 COnvicts to Mine Coal. Oklahoma City, Nov. 4.-State troops began occupying grounds adjacent to the mines within the il- closure of the state penitentiary farm at McAlester this evening and plans are being made for the re- opening of the mines either tomorrow or Thursday. Convict labor, it $ understood, will be used.
 St. Louis Has Famine.
 St. Louis, Nov. 4-St. Louis fuel dealers have virtually no coal on hand, it was announced today and have asked the government to place Lieutenant Governor Wallace Cross- ley, state fuel administrator during the war, in charge of the situation