Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-29
WILL USE TROOPS
IF NECESSARY To
-! ~.'!!?g9IIECT 7 MINERS
Govefh~~ o1sss,Sss IS Notice To
Both FaG> S@eS at Interfer-
enCe With Z Production
viii Not Be Tolerated.

Washington, Nov 2S.-The govern
ment served blunt notice on soft coal
miners and operators tonight that in
reference with coal production would
not be tolerated
Warning that legal prosecution
would be employed to thwart conspir-
acies by either side and troops sent
/ wherever necessary to protect miners
i willing to work came from the de-
/ partment of justice after members OF
| the cabinet had considered every
phase of the fuel situation admittedly
| critical in view of the abrupt break
ing off of negotiations.
/ 1t is not the intention of the gov
ernment to let the mines remain idle
! with half of the country in the grip
| of cold weather and coal piles rapidly
/ diminishing.
The administration, II was thought
! by those in position to know. had
| fully expected the miners to reject
| the IA per cent wage increase offered
! by Fuel Administrator Garfield An
! ticipating this, plans had been con-
sidered for augmentinG the present
output of bituminous mines, officially
figured at better than 40 per cent Of
normal.
Miners Assured Protection.
A statement by Assistant Attorney
! General Ames, issued late in the day,
! gave assurance to all miners that they
would be afforded ample protection
If they returned to work, even le
troops had to be called ont, This was
the only definite statement Of policy
from the government. In official cir
cles ii was said that the federal au-
thortties were determined to force re-
sumption of operations on the terms
laid down by the fuel administrator
The department of justice state
ment called attention to the fact that
instructions issued heretofore by ths
war department In connection with
the possible use Of troops in coal
field regions still were in effect, and
that department commanders stood
ready to guard the fields the instant
their aid was requested by the author
tiles.
Prepare To Resume Operations.
Operators tonight set out TO resume
operations, so far as that was possi-
BILE under the muddled conditions, by
telegraphing notices for posting at
mines everywhere offering an in
crease of fourteen per cent for all men
willing to work.
| There were few expressions as to
/ now this fnformation might be re-
ceived but representatives. OF tha
miners here still declared it would be
no incentive, and that It would be
| ignored, especially in the central
keompetitive fields embracing the
states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and
| western Pennsylvania. Operators,
however, believed that 1t would draw
large numbers to the mines and that
next week would see a big Increase
in the daily soft coal output
Ames Gives out Statement
In discussing department Of Justice
plans, Assistant Attorney General
Ames said:
"All United States attorneys in tho
hituminous coal fields have been Of
ficially advised Of the result of the
negotiations at Washington and have
been given instructions relative to the
situation
at is, of course, obvious that tho
time has come when ample protection
will be furnished all persons desiring
to work in mines. All persons, weti
er miners or operators making any
agreement or arrangement with each
other to restrict the supply of coal
will be poceeded against as the law
provides, and It should be understood
that any person who aids or abets in
restricting the supply Of coal is like
wise guilty by the terms of the Lever
act.
instructions heretofore issued by
the war department are still in force
and under these Instructions, de-
partment commanders Will act in
proper cases when requested to do
so by the state authorities
Fourteen Per Cent Sufficient
DIR. Garfield had explained earlier
in the day that he regarded fourteen
per cent a Just and sufficient wage
advance for mine workers and that
mine owners who did not cooperate
with the government would find their
properties taken over and operated by
the fuel administration.
John l.. Lewis, acting president Of
the United Mine Workers of America.
who had borne the brunt of the wage
negotiation fighting, went home to-
night worn out by the long wrangle.
Before leaving for Indianapolis Lewis
saw Secretary of Labor Wilson and
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor He
did not have much to say about the
arranged with Gompcrs to have the
federation's lawyers assist counsel for
the miners in the perfecting of their
appeal from the ruling of Federal
Judge Anderson, ordering the coal
strike order cancelled.
In labor and official circles the
meeting of Lewis and Gompers' was
regarded as significant, but there was
no statement concerning questions
discussed except Lewis reference 20
seeking counsel aid.
Cabinet Rejected Wilson'S Offer.
After leaving Secretary Wilson's Of
flee Lewis said:
"Dr. Garfield represents the gov
ernment Mr. Wilson told me that
today"
This was taken by Lewis to mean
that the fourteen per cent wage offer
was, definitely and finally. the gov
ernments offer and that Mr.. Wilson'S
for a 81 per cent advance
had been rejected by the cabinet So
far as obtaining help for his union,
Lewis realized that fourteen per cent
was all they might expect
The operators wage scale commit
tee will meet here again next We'd
nesday to agree upon the details nee
essary to preserve existing different
ials in putting a fourteen per cent
wage advance into effect
NCtifV Men of Increase.
The telegram urping all nDnrot tors IN