New-York tribune., 1919-10-31
not now be favored and in time their
supply might be cut off entirely
Domestic Needs First

supply might be cut off entirely
Domestic Needs First
With the approval of that order by
the President the first step to protect
the public against high prices if coal
production is seriously reduced will
have been taken. Under the order
there will be a distribution of fuel and
the use of priorities as during the war
days, and the first efforts will be di-
rected toward domestic consumers, to
keeping the railroads and public utili-
ties operating.
In this connection Secretary Lane
said that it might be necessary to cur
tail coal for industrial purposes as
much as so per cent. The lists of the
War Industries Board are available and
the government can quickly put its
finger on those which are rated as
more essential in character. Mr.. Lane
said New England, which produces no
coal whatever, has two months sup
ply on hand, and the Northwest also
is fairly we'll supplied Coal from non
union mines he believed may prove
sufficient to run the railroads and pub
.ic utilities and take care of domestic
demands
Attorney General Palmer came back
20 the White House late in the day.
Wilson since he took to his bed except
Secretary Tumulty and the Presidents
physicians. The seriousness of the sit
uation, If not apparent before, was
sharply brought out by this visit,
which would not have been permitted
unless the Cabinet felt that it could
not go further without Presidential ap-
proval of its acts.
As he left the White House. Mr..
Dol n
proved the course of the Cabinet and
would sign the order re-establishlng
the maximum coal price as soon as 1T
was presented to him.
Asked about the truth of a report
3. that the government does not now CON
template criminal prosecution of the
leaders Of the miners if the strike goes
into effect, Mr.. Palmer SAID he haa
never made any such statement.
Responding to an inquiry about re-
ports the operators would not work
the mines, he said 'If the operators
conspire to restrict the production or
coal or aid and abet in restricting its
production they will be prosecuted
with the same force and vigor that
would be used to prosecute any other
person who so conspres."
Twice Accused Miners
The Administration twice has de-
clared the leaders of the miners have
violated the Lever act, once when
President Wilson approved a state
ment saving what they were dong was
unlawful and unjustihable, and last
night when Mr.. Palmer in a statement
declared they were putting themselves
without the pale OF the law.
Despite these statements there were
reports to-day in Washington that the
Administration would not bring GRIM
Inal prosecutions against the leaders
of the miners. This position was SAID
to have been taken because the govern
ment does not wish to make martyrs
out of the leaders of the strikers and
does not wish to give labor the op-
portunity to call q general strike.
Mr.. Palmer declined to say more
about this phase of the situation than
that he lad made no statement that
there would be no such prosecutions,
but it was believed here that there
would be some hesitancy in adopting
such policy. The effect of with
clrawal from the stand then taken on
the country. 1T was pointed out, might
be decidedly bad. and the Administra-
ton would not have the support Off
cials now feel it has behind it.
If it is decided not to institute GRIM
iral proceedings, the court procedure
TO be followed might be through IN
junction proceedings to stay the hands
Of the leaders of the mine workers
II Federal courts granted such an in
junction, any person who violated it
would run afoul of the courts and be
guilty of contempt, and his case would
from then on be in the hands OF the
courts. and while the government event
ually might have to step in to help en-
force the DEGREES, >much Of the onus
would be on the courts and not on the
executive branch of the government.