Evening star., 1919-10-30

Will De dple 10 OBTAIN iuei in
peratively needed by applying TO these
directors.
Successive Government Steps.
Following refusal of heads Of the
miners organization. in conference in
Indianapolis yesterday. to rescind the
strike order. which is to become eff
Ifective tomorrow midnight, events
moved swiftly in the coal strike situa-
ton.
Momentous developments included
revival of the United States Fuel Ad-
mln1stratlon, which was dissolved
February l, and arming it with fun
wartime powers to prevent boarding
and profteering; re-establishment of
maximum prices for coal; ALLEGATION
and distribution of coal to homes,
railroads and essential industries, and
to speedy end by negotiations and
| mediation.
The government further determined
TO provide military protection to men
IN the soft coal mining regions who
1t is definitely known. do not desire to
strike in the face of overwhelming
public sentiment against. dislocation
iof the mining and general industrial
and transportation situation at the
beginning of winter and at a ti1pe
when the governments efforts toward
treadjustment of industrial conditions
jare beginning to bear fruit.
1t has been Iearned that the De-
partment of Justice and the Attorney
! General do not contemplate arrest OF
| Indictment of leaders of the coal
| miners union on charges of con-
spiracy. Neither does any govern
ment agency purpose to attack wha,
! the miners union asserts to be the
! legal right of workingmen to strike
Position of Government.
1t was made plain by Attorney Gen.
eral Palmer last night that the broad
general proposition of the legal right
to strike is not in any way involved
in the present conflict. the position
of the government being that a strik,
of approximately ha.s a million Goa
miners and the consequent throwing
out of employment of several million!
of workers in all other lines is illegal
in contravention of public policy, an,
will be combated with every mean
at the disposal of the government.
Meanwhile every effort is to be ex
! erted to bring about a settlement o
the dispute between the miners ant
the operators through mediation.
1t is known that the government 70
some weeks past has had scores o
confidential agents in the territory Z
be affected by the impending strike
and that reports of these investigator
are to the effect that by no mean
, all of the miners intend to strike
while many more, who probably viii
obey the orders of their leaders an
cease work tomorrow midnight, vii
do SO in a half-hearted way. Almos
4 without exception, it is learned, tn
governments confidential investiga
tors have reported that public senti
ment throughout the greater part
the territory to be affected by tn
strike is overwhelmingly against
walkout of the miners on the thresh
old of winter, and that if the str1k
iidoes come it will be of short dura
tion.
the last few weeks regular troops
parts of divisions lately returne
from overseas service, in camps. can
! tonments and at Army posts in TN
| north, middle west and south haV
been quietly shifted to points 9
are regular troops at Camp Zachar
Taylor near Louisville, KY Emer
igency rations and rife and machin
gun ammunition wereSissued TO tnes
,oyerseas fighters several days as,
tapd their officers were ordereo 10 hoi
at an hours notice. 1t is stated ina
troops at Fort Thomas. Fort Benla
min Harrison and other middle west
ern posts have received similar OF
ders. r., n,
announcement last evening by III
, Harry A. Garfield. former and no.
} newly designated fuel administrator
J Of sharp reductions in prices OF soI
coal, stated these reductions Woul
become effective almost immeoiatei!
DR.. Garfield further stated the reduc
! tions would be effective as to price
. sDecified in large contracts mac
: since February l last.
The governments attitude in tn
controversy between miners and op
orators is made plain in the state
; ment last night by Attorney Genera
> Palmer when he declared in enee
, that the illegality OF the impendin
: coal strike will be established with
: ont in any way impairing the geners
, / right to strike, as the general rigf
, ! to strike is not in issue in any wa
, whatever in the present situation
The statement followed q conferenc
lin the Attorney Generals office be
tween Mr.. Palmer. Secretary Miiso
of the Department of Labor; Wake
e Hines, director general OF railroad:
. Secretary Tumulty and Assistant Al
torneys General Ames and Garvan.