The sun., 1919-11-05
End INJUNCTION, is
PLEA OF GOMPERS


n.ace through a calling off of the strike
snd adjudication of the differences be-
tween miners and operators will not be
abandoned. The good Offices Of labor
examinations other t.1an that of the
miners will be welcomed. and there Is a
nrospect that such Offices may be sue
cessful in bringing compromise. that
will avoid defeat of the organized mine
workers, but in the meantime the Gov
ernment will not recede one whit in it's
action and to protect the country from
the horrors of a coal famine.
when unfounded reports were pub
Nshed here that Attorney-General Palmer
would withdraw the application to make
nermanent the injunction granted at
Indianapolis wnen the writ is returnable
next Saturday the Department Of Justice
made public the following letter Srom
Edward Keenan,, secretary OF the Della
ware River Shipbu,lders Council, and
the reply OF the eAttorney-General
Keenan's Letter to Palmer.
The letter to Mr.. Palmer reads:
The Delaware River Shipbuiiders
Council, representing about eighty
thousand employees In the shipyards
of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mary
land, Delaware and Virginia, hereto
fore loyal supporters Of the Admins
tration, at a convention held at
Chester Saturday evening. passed
resolutions vigorously protesting
against the application for injunction
against the coal miners by your de-
partment Government by injunction
has been denounced in the platform
OF the political party which you rep
resent and in view Of the magnificent
efforts Of the coal miners during the
war, as well as all organized labor.
Government should at least thorough
" investigate situation before taking
such action.
Answer by Attorney-General
The Attorney General answered as
follows:
II have your telegram of the srd
instant advising that the shipbuilders'
council has passed resolution pro-
testing against the application by the
Government for a writ Of injunction in
connection with the strike in the btu
minous coal fields.
at is true that I have always OPP
posed government by injunction ana
may say to you that / still oppose It.
Permit me, however, to point QUITO
you the distinction which we commonly
understand by that phrase and the facts
IN this case. This case Is brought by
the Government. not by an employer. to
protect the whole body of the American
people from a calamity almost equal to
war itself-not to settle controversy
between labor and capital.
THE food and fuel control act ex-
pressly provides:
That It is hereby made unlawful for
any person to conspire,
combine, agree, or arrange with any
other person (a) to limit the facilities
for producing any ~necessar-
les; (b) to restrict the supply Of any
necessartes; (o) to restrict distribution
Of any necessaries.' y.
"By the specific language of the act
necessaries includes fuel as well a
food. The act further provides:
THAT the provisions of this act shall
cease to be in effect when the existing
state of war between the United States
and Germany shall have terminated, and
the fact and date Of such termination
shall be ascertained and proclaimed BY
the President
"Not later than October 22 the Con
gress recognized that this act was still
in force, amending It's provisions and i'm
posing heavy penalties for its violation
You will observe that by the express
language Of this act agreements or ar
rangements between two or more persons
10 restrict the output OF coal are spe
cifically forbidden and made crimina
offenses. The coal strike Is Of course, ar
agreement or an arrangement by large
number OF persons TO restrict the outpu
Of coal and therefore is forbidden b,
law.
Duty for Miners to obey.
1T is my duty as Attorney General t,
enforce this act of Congress and it 4
the duty Of the miners to obey II. l
represents the will of the people Of tn
United States. whose commands ar