The courier-index., 1919-11-21
Government Refuses to Vacate
Legal Proceedings Against
Coal Strikers.
GOMPERS APPEAL IS IN VAIN
Operators Declare He Has Misrepre-
scented the Facts-People's Atti-
tude Toward Radical Labor
Leadership Shown in Mas
sachusetts Election.
By EDWARD w. PICKARD.

Firmly refusing to be put in the po-
sition of compromising a felony the
federal government has rejected the
proposition Of the union labor leaders
that it abandon the legal proceedings
against the coal. strike as a prelimi-
nary to negotiations for peace.
On Saturday Assistant Attorney
General Ames asked Federal Judge
Anderson at Indianapolis to make per-
manent the restraining order, thus es-
tablishing the illegality of the strike.
If this is done. according to the lead
ers of the miners, the strike will be
of long duration because the men will
resist to the last any attempt at
wrongful compulsion."
In most of the bitumlnous fields
there was little change in the status,
though operators in Colorado and
West Virginia reported gains in pro-
duction.
In several states the shortage of
coal began to make itself felt and
there were appeals for the release OF
coal confiscated by the railroads; a
number of trains were cancelled TO
save fuel; In some places the schools
were closed for short periods.
President Wilson gave to Fuel Adj
ministrator Garfield full authority
over prices, distribution and shipment
of all fuel. Doctor Garfield delegated
to the railroad administration his au-
thority over distribution.
Such broadly was the coal strike
situation at the time of writing. There
was little sign of yielding on either
side. The operators of Illinois were
of the opinion that the strike would
last two weeks longer and that then
public opinion and the government
would compel the miners TO call 1t
off and accept arbitration, in which
| case the operators would agree to the
five-day week, if assured Of adequate
supply of cars, and would grant an
increase of wages.
Samuel Gompers. who with w. s.
Stone, head of the locomotive engi-
neers, has been working to bring about
a compromise. made the appeal for
vacation of the injunction against the
strike, and issued a statement de-
by the strikers and accusing the OPP
orators OF much wrongdoing and I'M
fairness. The latter retorted with a
statement saying that Mr.. Gompers'
pronouncement was full of mlsrepre-
sensations, continuing:
"It Is not true that the operators
representatives walked out of Secre-
tary Wilson'S conference, leaving Mr..
Lewis with no alternative but to call
strike. The operators representa-
tives accepted President Wilson's pro-
posal in It's entirety and withdrew
from the conference In order that
their presence might not embarrass
Secretary Wilson in his effort to per-
suade the miners to take the honorable
course thus opened to them.
AT the time Of their withdrawal
the operators advised Secretary VIII.
son that they would remain in Wash.
ington, awaiting his call to further
conference.
ut is not true, as Mr.. Gompers i'm.
plies, that the miners are not permit.
ted by the operators to work full time
The operators have no control over
the demand for coal. They can merely
stand ready to produce and furnish
II when the public requires and IS
willing to accept 1t.
ut is not true that the miners re.
ceived an advance of 90 cents tor
In 1914.
1T is not true that the operators
raised the price of coal IS a ton ii