Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-09
NO INF FORNATI0N
7 RICKLES THROUGH
At INDIANAP IS
Dense Silence Is Rule When
Government Officials and
Miners Are Questioned AS
To Agreement.

10y MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL Lr>sco w,ssl
indianapolis, Dec. S.-Department
of justice officials, including Attor-
ney General Palmer ana heads of the
United Mine Workers of America
who today arrived from Washington.
alike refused to give out any details
of the agreement reached at Wash
ington Saturday night looking to a
settlement of the strike of bitumin-
Gus coal miners.
Likewise they declined to make any
statements as TO the probable effect
of the agreement upon the legal
phases of the situation which include
arrangements for a sweeping investl-
cation by a federal grand jury of al
legged violations of the Lever fuel con-
troll act and anti trust laws, and Grim
ina contempt proceedings against
international and district
officers of the miners union.
At the close of conference of gov
ernment officials with United states
District Judge Anderson, which lasted
IN ore than two hours this afternoon,
a ttorney General Palmer stated that
there would be no announcement
from the government on the coal sit-
uation until after the convening Of
court at 10 clock tomorrow morn
ing when the miners heads are to
a ppear before Judge Anderson and
a nswer the charges of contempt. It
KK-s q thnt tho tpunnTfS
would be required to appear as
scheduled but efforts to learn IL the
charges would be dismissed or the
n earrings postponed, pending the
m Getting Of the executive board Of the
miners tomorrow afternoon to consid-
er the Washington proposal, were met
with eyasive answers.
Basis for Opinion.
Belief that action against the miners
in the contempt cases as well as the
grand jury investigation which was
called to probe charges of conspiracy
on the part of the operators as we'll as
miners would be postponed, was
based on the action of government at
torneys this morning in procuring
postponemen of the first session Of
the grand jury until tom orrow morn
ing at 10 O'Clock. In announcing this
poStponement, United States District
\ ttorney l., Ert Slack, stated that em-
panellng Of the grand jury had been
held off until conferences could be
held with Attorney General Palmer.
He stated that his announcement did
n ot mean that the grand jury would
be empanelied tomorrow morning but
that such action would not be taken
before that time.
John L. Lewis, acting president OF
the United Mine Workers, who with
ecretary-Treasurer William Green
and Waiter James, legislative agent
of the miners organization, arrived
on the same train from Washington
with the attorney generals party, al
so refused to discuss the Washington
conference or the possible effect the
a agreement might have on pending
court action. In answer to questions
MIR. Lewis said that in the Washing
ton conference no mention was made
of dismissal Of court proceedings as
a part of the proposed settlement,
Personnel of Conference.
The conference this afternoon be-
gan at a hotel, but after a short while
was adjourned to the federal building
in order that the department of just
ice officials might consult with Judge
Besides Mr.. Palmer and
Judge Anderson, those who partict-
pa ted in the conference included c. b..
a mes, assistant to the attorney gen
eral: United States District Attorney
l.. Ert Slack, Dan w, Simms, special
assistant district attorney, appointed
in connection with the proceedings
against the miners; Henry S. Mitchell
special assistant to the attorney gen
eral, and Fred Van Nuys, who VIII
Mr.. Slack as district attorney
next month,
The meeting of the executive board
of the miners has been called Tor
o. clock tomorrow afternoon to hear
the proposal made by President VIII
son through the attorney general, and
which President Lewis and Secretary
Green have agreed 10 urge
upon the miners as basis Tor settie-
M ent of the strike. Several or the dls-
trict officials of the coal workers had
reached Indianapolis late this after
noon and the others who composed
the executive board and scale commit
tee, all of whom are defendants in the
proceedings, are expected
during the night or early TUESDAY.
All Are Silent.
w nlle MT. IStNlS anu MI p'NNAf
would not discuss the Washington
Conference, they appeared satisfied
wi TIL the turn which the situation has
ia ken and it was indicated that they
expect speedy settlement of the
strike and resumption of work in the
mines 1t is believed that statement
by Ellis searles, editor of the United
Mine workers Journal, to the effect
that any proposal which met the ap-
proval of MIR Lewis and Mr.. Green
would be endorsed by the executive
board, reflected opinion among the
miners generally.
There was much speculation tonight
as to the terms of the proposal of Pres
dent Wilson and widely divergent
views were expressed. However, a pre-
ponderance CT opinion favored re-
ports that the proposal did not con-
template any advance in wages above
he IA per cent proposed by the gov
,rnment through Fuel Administrator
) Garfield at the close Of the last joint
conference of operators and miners
n Washington, but contained provi-
;ions for appointment of a commits
ion 10 investigate and report on what
a just increase in wages.
Under this plan it was believed the
mi iners would return to work at once