The Washington times., 1919-10-27
OFFICIALS AWAIT
MOVE BY Miners
Continued from First Page.)

If necessary, should the peace treaty
be ratified meanwhile.
There will be no wobbling on the
part of the Government" 1t was
stated In official circles today.
Attorney General Palmer was ex--
pected to- be the first to be called
upon for action in the event that the
miners refuse to recall their strike or
der. 1t was expected that the Attor-
ney General would put into effectthe
Lever act, which gives the Govern
ment the power of operating any in
dustry necessary for the war emer-
gency.
There are several openings through
which the Government may step into
the coal controversy.
The present contract, which is to
run until the end of the war or until
April 1. 1920, was made with the
sanction Of the fuel administration, a
Government agency. This was point
ed out specifically by President Will
son in his warning to the miners Sat-
urday that the Government consid-
cred the proposed strike unlawful.
Interference Illegal.
The food control law also gives
the Government opportunity to take
hand in the strike through it's pro-
visions making it illegal to interfere
with production, and allowing the
Government to take over a mine to
insure continued production.
Even without this law, officials
here point out, that the Supreme
Courts broad definition of war powers
would give the Government plenty of
latitude for action. In passing on va
rious war laws the Supreme Court
declared that the Government had the
power to do almost anything in the
interest of the nations existence.
III miners, whose leaders are soon
to meet in Indianapolis, consent to
call on their strike, the coal operators
may be the next ones to feel the
strsng hand of the Government, ac-
cording to information here today.
While first action was directed
against the miners, it is known Of
ficials do not hold the operators en-
tirely blameless for the present con-
dition of affairs.
Secretary of Labor Wilson has said
several times that the operators
showed an uncomprising, attitude in
the negotiations betwe% the miners
and operators here last week. 1t was
evident that the Secretary believed
that neither miners nor operators
were showing the proper spirit OF
oscillation.
Still Blame Operators.
IL the two sides of the coal con-
troversy finally get together to dis
cuss matters, IL is expected that Gov
ernment officials will not allow ne
gotiations to drag. Miners. in pre-
viously refusing to call off their
strike, said that prolonging negotia-
tions was the aim of the operators.
NJ w
industrial conference to take up the
| industrial situation in its broad as
poets, officials here today believed
| that a resembling of the coal strike
would go long way toward quieting
threats of further trouble immedi-
ately
Il it becomes apparent that the
Government is prepared to take a
strong stand and maintain it in la
Dor troubles, IT is believed employers
and employees will exhaust all efforts
at conciliation before resorting to a
| strike or lockout
The stand of the President and his
Cabinet was regarded here as accu-
rately predicting what would be their
attitude should the railroad workers
carry out their threats to strike IL
wage raises are not granted
! Situation stin Critical
| The situation is still critical" as
regards the coal strike, it was stated
in White House circles today.
! The White House has received nu-
merous kilograms and letters indors-
ing the Presidents statement on the
coal situation. il was also stated. and
there is every indication that there
is wide support for his action.
The administration does not intend
to crush the miners or their demands
1T was stated, and the Presidents
statement was not intended to indi-
cate any disposition on the part of
the Government in opposition to the
| miners demands. 1t was declared
that the statement was merely to in
| dtcate that the Government does not
| approve of the methods used by the
| miners to enforce their