Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-11-06
Union LabOr's Proposal for End ing Strike Spurned by De-
 partment of Justice. COURTS ACTION IS
 NEXT IMPORTANT MOVE Judge Expected to Issue Permanent Injunction Carrying Order to Call
 0n Strike or Grant the
 Miners Plea.

Washington, Nov. 5.-Ten union mines in the New River, West Vir- ginia, coal fields resumed operations
 ihgton headquarters of the opera tors. Of this number, the report said, four opened as non-union, one the other five the men went back to work at the old wage scale.
 In Northern West Virginia fields, mines are working with three in the operators claimed 31 active union state, with indications of a big days output.
 Organized labor's proposal for ending the coal strike through with drawal of injunction proceedings against officers of the United Mine Workers of America, was rejected today by the department of justice. The governments answer to the union suggestion, advanced by Sam uel Gompers, president of the Amer ican Federation of Labor, was giv- l en by Assistant Attorney General Ames, who declared the strike in itself was violation of law and that as long as it continued, the on- ly place to fight it out was in court. l Up to the Court. Labor leaders, vlsibiy disturbed by this refusal, agreed with the op- orators on one important point that the statement of the govern ment's position swept away all hope of immediate settlement of the strike involving more than 100000 soft coal miners in 28 states. ] The restraining order issued by Federal Judge Anderson at Indian polls last week was made return able on Saturday. Counsel for the miners will go into court that day and ask for dismissal of all pro- ceedings.
 One of two things will happen: The court, according to officials here, either will grant the plea of the miners or issue permanent in- junction, carrying with it manda- tory order to John l.. Lewis, acting
 president of the miners organiza- tion, to call off the strike.
 Whatever the court does, it in it. self is expected to be the next im- portant move bearing on the ques- tion of settling the strike. Repre- sentatives of the miners and other labor leaders emphasized today that withdrawal of court proceedings would bring peace to the coal fields within AS hours. Lewis statement that the miners would be willing to negotiate a new wage agreement "without reservations" meant, they said, that the slate would be wiped clean, and demands for a five-day week and six-hour day, together with a 60 per cent wage, increase, withdrawn. But labor leaders de- clared there was no hope of miners returning to work in a body until ratified
 Situation Unchanged.
 President Wilson, sick in bed, yet mindful of the serious conditions confronting the country with pro- tracted strike, issued orders giving Fuel Administrator Garfield authori- ty to regulate price, distribution and shipment of all fuel, including an- thracite. This action restored all powers vested in Dr. Garfield dur ing the war. The fuel administra- tor was in conference continually to- day checking up on the coal sup ply and arranging with Director General Hines of the railroad ad- ministration for it's distribution where most needed.
 As was the case yesterday, there were few reports to the department of justice from it's agents in the field, and generally the strike situ- ation was described as unchanged.
 Reports to the Washington head- quarters of the operators from agents in West Virginia said that 31 union mines had resumed opera tions in various fields of that state, most of these having opened today. l With colder weather over most of
 the country and big decrease in production, few disquieting reports came from different sections. where
 available coal stock was limited.
 Assurances again were given by the government, in reply to inquir-
 ies. that every protection would be
 afforded union or non-union miners willing to remain at work. | Lewis Is Silent.
 1 Indianapolis. Ind, Nov. 5.-When
 informed of the decision, Assistant l Attorney General John l.. Lewis, acting president of the United Mine Workers of America, said today that he had no comment to make.
 "My statement last night covers the situation," Mir. Lewis said. Judge Ames' statement says that | l (Continued on page six.)