Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1919-11-28
HARSH ACTION
TO END STRIKE.
,,ANT|C|P
Government Expected To Act
Immediately To Relieve
Coal Shortage Federal OPP
Grafton Possible.
BY Ralph #. Couch

Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
washington, Nov. 2S.-Drastic gov
ernment action to get the coal mines
running is expected here before the
end OF the week.
With the west in the grip of a biz
zard which seems about to sweep east
ward, the coal operators and repre-
sentatiyes of striking miners broke up
their joint conference here late yester-
day.
Unable to agree on wage increase,
the conference adjourned sine die.
Cabinet Meets Again.
President Wilson'S cabinet meets to-
morrow The coal situation will be the
first question to be taken up, it is be-
lieved. Federal operation Of the mines
is one possibility, although this is cor
sidered unlikely. The government, 1t
is emphasized, would face the same
difficulty In getting miners to return
! to work that operators were unable to
overcome.
/ More legal action by Palmer. would
not get the miners back to work in
large numbers, according to many Off
Gals. The attorney general is under
stood to have evidence upon which to
base criminal suits against several
leaders of the miners union.
Since Judge Anderson issued the in
\ junction restraining leaders of the
United Mine Workers from furtherine
the strike which began November
Palmers agents have flooded him with
reports from every section of the coun
/, try. These reports have to do with
activities of local union officials fol
lowing receipt of the order regcindint
J the strike sent out by John Lewis
president of the union, under directio,
of the court.
Owners Asks Troops.
Operators today promised that
troops We're sent into the coal fields tn
strike would be broken quickly. Thou
/ sands of miners would return to thei
jobs if they We're sure of protection
operators claimed.
Government officials replied tina
troops are available in every localit
= where they may be needed and ca
n be called upon application to the neal
1t est mill center through the state gov
: ernor.
n Coal now is being mined at a rate {
e. about 40 per cent of normal, offici
reports show. Most of this tonnage
IS being produced by 10000 non-unic
Is miners who refused to strike Noven
~ Der /.
L The number of union miners wi
"a SO far have returned to work in lii
with the strike-rescinding order
characterized as ''negligible" by uniC
officials.
e' Small Reserve on Hand.
Although ordinary stocks of coal a
- nearly exhausted, according to repoI
of the railroad administration, fa
-, sized stocks that were intended
=. export are available for domestic III
ID These reserve stores are on cars at
nj lantic ports, where they We're halt
,as by the railroad administration VIII
no the strike began.
The conference break up yesterd
NJ came after the miners formally vot
,ur to reject the offer of the operators
a an average increase of Ia per cent. 7
W. miners also rejected an arbitration !
OIL posal by the operators. according to
w. Guthrie, who acted as chairman
FL yesterdays session.
to After the miners voted down the
not per cent offer they proposed a sett
oty ment on the basis of an increase
5l.67 per cent as suggested by Sec
tary Wilson. This was voted down
the operators