The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-10

Washington, Nov. 1O.-Labor
leaders predicted today that in
teTnational officers of the United
Mine Workers of America, meet
ing at Indianapolis, would not
call off the coal strike as directed
bv Federal Judge Anderson,
whatever the legal consequences
might be.
The decision striking coal miners
are called upon to make at Indianapo
lis by o'clock tomorrow night is con-
sidered the most momentous in the
history of American labor. They will
determine whether they will comply
wi h the government order, or defy It
Doubt if Lewis Has Power
One of the spokesmen for the min
ers' organization said he doubted if
Acting President Lewis and his asso-
ciates had the power. even if they had
the inclination, to comply with the
mandate.
THE strike was ordered by a dele
gate convention in the event the oper-
ators refused to grant our demands"
the spokesman said, "and Lewis mere
ly carried out instructions in ordering
the strike. The convention must call
it off"
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation of Labor. would
not add anything to the statement is
sued last night by the executive coun-
Gil supporting the striking miners and
demanding that the government with
draw the injunction proceedings
That was the statement of the ex-
ecutive council and it speaks for it
self." Morrison said. Il am not here
to interpret it,
The federation secretary had been
asked for a statement in view of the
nouncement of organized labor was a
notice to the striking miners to stand
pat
United States Position Unchanged.
Attorney General Palmer and other
administra tion officials refused to
comment on the federation's state
ment. but they indicated there would
be no change in the governments po-
sition regarding the strike
Miners Parlcy Very Secret.
Indianapo Nov 1O.-The general
committee of the United Mine Work
ers of America. which met here today
to take action on the mandatory in
junction of Federal Judge A. B. An
derSon, demanding that the strike or
der be rescinded before p. m. to-
morrow, was still in session at l
o'clock this afternoon and no intima-
ton of what the action of the commit
tee would be was given out.
The meeting place of the committee.
which includes international officers.
district presidents and members of the
executive board and scale committee
representing 425,000 striking bitumi-
nous coal miners. was kept secret un-
til just a few minutes before the con-
ference convened.
A sergeant-at-arms was stationed at
the entrances to the hall and only del
egates were permitted to approach
within twenty feet of the entrance.
The American Federation of Labor's
Endorsement of the strike of bitumin-
Gus coal miners of the country was be-
lieVed in many quarters to presa ge a
fight on the part of the miners. as
sisted by labor in general against the
mandatory injunction of Federal
Judge A. B. Anderson, in Indianapolis
Saturday ordering union officials to
call off the strike.
Officials of the mine workers. in
Guiding Acting President John l.
Lewis and Secretary-Treasurer Will
liam Green. declined to discuss the ac-
tion of the federation's executive coun-
Gil and declared they would have no
statement to make prior to the meet
ing today.
Today's meeting, set for 10 o'clock
this morning. was called following the
issuance of Judge Anderson's order.
Miners May Ignore Chiefs Order.
While it was believed in some cir
cles that an order resembling the
strike call issued October Is would be
approved by the miners committee
and sent on its way to the coal fields
before p. m. tomorrow, the time lin
it set by Judge Anderson. its reception
by the coal diggers was regarded as
problematical. In some districts, it