The Washington times., 1919-11-14
MINERS IN CONFAB
HERE WITH OWNERS
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thirty-hour week, and wage increases
ranging up to 60 per cent.
Less than this. they fear. will give
the extreme radical element control
aOf the miners, for the men will lose
faith In their conservative leaders
1t Is expected that the operators will
make an issue of the fact that the
miners have not yet returned to work
in obedience to instructions from the
leaders, and IL Is even possible that
they may refuse to negotiate until the
strike is over.
Miners Stay Out.
Reports from the coal fields today
show clearly that the movement
among the miners to continue the
strike is widespread. Only fraction
of the unionists have returned to
work, and thousands have stated that
they will not do so until assured of
the decision of the Washington con-
ference Officials here are not alarm
ed over the prospect, feeling that by
next week. the situation will be in
hand However. they will exert the
entire force OF the Government to see
that the men follow in the action
taken by their leaders.
The government also Is ready to put
stiff pressure on the operators
should they show "stand pat" atti-
tude, and has made 1t clear that
prompt and drastic action will follow
the failure OF the negotiations. Gov
ernment Communicating OF the mines
is a possibility.
Palmer On the job
Attorney General Palmer today
see that conditions in the coal fields
do not lead to trouble while the con-
ference is in session.
The Department of Justice was in
yestigating reported covert" acts by
both the miners and the operators
Mr.. Palmer gave instructions that an
inquiry should be made OF charges
that miners returning to their work
in Alabama were being discharged
because they had gone on strike. In
structions for investigation also were
given concerning reports that union
miners in Illins had driven care
takers from the mines.
With the collapse OF the coal strike,
the House Agriculture Committee has
decided to hold back on action look.
ing to the extension OF the Lever food
and fuel control act for six months
after the proclamation of peace with
Germany.
Wanted Act Extended.
Attorney General Palmer had recon-
mended such extension OF the war
time law to clothe the Government
with necessary powers to punish
those who interfered with the pro-
duction OF necessities of life. He
acted under this law in bringing his
injunction proceedings against the
leaders of the United Mine Workers
OF America
In the acute stages of this strike,
and before the leaders of the coal
miners had decided to obey the injunc.
tion and call the strike of. members
OF the Agriculture Committee were
willing to vote for extension OF the
law. that the Government might not
be crippled In it's fight. With the
growing prospects OF an amicable ad-
justnent through arbitration of the
differsnees between the coal miners
and the operators, the committee is
reluctant to report favorably the ex-
tension of the life OF the Lever act
and want the law to die with the ter
mination OF the war.
Hearings on Lever Act.
Further hearings were held by the
committee today in order to give op-
portunity to those opposing extension
Of the law to prevent their views, and
the committee will mark time on the
legislation while awaiting develop
ments of the meetings between the
operators and the representatives OF
the coal miners, which begin today
If the Government insists on the con-
tinuation Of this law, Attorney Cen
eral Palmer will have to make an
other trip to the Capitol to convince
the Agriculture Committee that the
law is desirable and necessary to the
Government.
CUMBERLAND. Nov. 14.-The min