The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-01
STRIKE WITHOUT
DIRECTING HEAD
Injunction Against "a Union
Officials Deprives Men of
Guiding Hand.
100000 DIGGERS IDLE
Cutting Off Of $1,00o,00O in
Benefits Lessons Chance
of Financing Tie I'm.

Beneflts Lessons Chance
of Financing Tie-Up.
indianapolis, Ind, Nov. L.
Without a directing head, ap-
proximately 400, 900 bituminous
coal miners of the United States
were on strike today, according
to early reports received at the
headquarters of the United Mine
Workers here. Complete re-
ports, miners leaders assert,
will show half a million men
idle.
The striking miners are de-
prived of guiding hand
through the temporary restrain
ing order issued in federal court
here yesterday against eighty
four officers Of the mine work
ers. Because others are barred
from "conspiring" with the de-
PENDANTS to conduct the strike
under the terms of the injunc-
tion, just how far the leaderless
men may go with their effort to
! enforce their d e m n d s for
higher pay and shorter hours
remains problematical. Indi-
vidual miners are not prevented
from ceasing their work.
Strike Benefit Cut OH.
Another deterrent, the government
believes, is the provision to cut off
payment of the $l5.Ooo,ooo strike ben
Eeft fund to the idle men. 1t is con-
ltended that the mine worker will be
unable to finance the tie-up of the
mines without the aid of funds from
the organizations treasury.
John l.. Lewis, acting president OF
the mine workers, who was one ot
those upon whom the restraining writ
was served. declined early today tc
comment further on his statement
that the Injunction Is the "most
sweeping abrogation of the rights Of
American citizens ever issued by 9
federal court"
Denial that the government is seek.
ing to abrogate the rights of the mer
was made by C. b. Ames, assistant
to the attorney general. The right t.
strike is not involved, he declared
but the government of the United
States denies the right of labor t.
restrict or destroy the supply Of foot
or fuel during the war.
"The miners are doing Lawful
thing unlIwfully," is the way ont
government official summed up tn,
situation.
Speculation Current.
) Speculation was current today II
government and miners circle,
on wh e t her anthracite miner.
: would attempt strike in sympathy
with the bituminous miners, as fore
cast by representatives of the hare
coal workers. The restraining orde
issued yesterday is designed to pro
; hiblt sympathetic strikes.
, Federal authorities were inclined
TO believe today that no action will
be taken against Lewis because O
his vigorous denunciation of the In
Junction, or against Frank Earring
ton, president of the Illinois miners
who characterized the order o.
, breeding bolshevism."
The Mine Workers Journal, who's
editor Ellis searles, was among tn
, defendants in the governments ac
ton, probably will go to press with
out editorial or other matter whicl
; might be construed as influencing
, the strike. Heretofore the miners
5 organ has had an active part in di
, recting miners affairs.
Whether or not the men, once out
Will heed call from their executive
! to halt the strike also was a matte
, or speculation today. In its applica
: tlon for permanent injunction Nov
Y ., the government will demand a re
S cal of the strike order sent out OF
, Oct. Is.