The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-10-29
Cabinet Agrees On
Plans For Dealing
With Coal Strike
Plan of Action Not Dis
cOlsed, But Cabinet Deter
mined to Stand for Pro-
lection of Rights of Pub
lie in Case Strike Goes
Into Effect
BY Associated Press


Washington, October %.
How to deal with the soft coal
strike in event the miners,
ignoring President Wilson'S
command to stay on the job,
walk out Friday night, was
definitely agreed upon today at
a two-hour meeting of the
cabinet.
The plan OF action was not disclosed,
but it is known that the cabinet stood
as one man for protection of the rights
of the public which would suffer with
the closing of the mines in which or
dinarily more than half million menu
bers of the United Mine Workers of
America are employed.
But while steps already taken and
which might be regarded as drastic
were approved. Secretary Lansing. who
presided, brought word from the meet
ing that the situation was not hope
less. All day the belief had grown dha
the International executive board, az
its meeting tomorrow at indianapolis.
would postpone the strike. at least
Hope was expressed in some quarters
that the strike would be called off by
the men who had called 1t, but officials
declined to say whether this was based
on information purportlns to convey
some idea as TO the attitude OF the
unions
Mr.. Lansing would not say if any
facts had been laid before the meeting
to justify hope OF avertns the strike.
DECISION MAY BE DALAYED
Secretary of Labor Wilson. familiar
with the ways of miners through long
service as an officer OF their national
organization said it might he several
days before a decision was reached by
the executive board - Indianapolis
I'VE stlI have frc functions Of a
aediator to perform" he said. in an
aouncing that no new strike deveiop-
ments had been brought to his atten-
ton
Most officials had thought that John
l.. Lewis. president OF United Mine
Workers. who had summoned his full
scale committee to the meeting tomor-
row. would make immediate announce
ment of the reply OF his men to Presi-
don't Wilson's letter. According to the
view held by Mr. WILSON, however.
there may be 10 answer Heksl the NAry
last moment. An eleNeNtn uohf dSNi7
sion to postpone or cancel the strike
would not be surprising. IL was said
but there was some doubt here as 10
whether word could be sent to the men
in time to keep them at work.
The railroad administration II was
learned today. is putting forth every
effort to move the coal already mined
TO districts where present stocks are
running dangerously low. Meantime
government agents were taking =
quick census and trying to find out
how long the stocks on hand might
last. In the absence of an authorita-
tive statement stock reports were con-
flcting, but it was said that union es-
Inmates OF enough to supply demands'
for thirty days was not far wrong
READY FOR WORST
"rhe government is ready for the
worst, but is hoping the worst VIII
not happen. firm in the belief that tho
miners will respond patriotically to the
Presidents appeal and keep the mines
running while negotiating new wage
agreement was the summing UP TO-
night Of a government official In touch
with the situation, Everything oe
Ponds on what is done at Indianapolis