The Pensacola journal., 1919-11-12
Meeting is Called for Friday
in Washington by Secre-
tary Wilson of u. S. De
partrnent of Labor.
STRIKE CALLED OFF
UNDER PROTEST
I'VE Are Americans and
Cannot Fight Our Govern
ment,'' Said Lewis In An
nouncing Compliance

w 4NON. ll.--AoCIAC1 C1eAAJ
Labor Wilson this afternoon invited
opera tors and miners of all fields in
volved in the soft coal strike. which
the United Mine Workers of America
called off, to meet here Friday to dis
cuss a new wage agreement.
Thomas E. Brewster, chairman OF
the operators scale committee invit-
ed the miners to the conference, and
they wired him and Secretary Wilson.
accepting the secretary's invitation.
indianapolis, Nov. 11.-Way for
final adjustment of the controversy
of soft coal operators and miners ap-
peared in sight tonight for miners
leaders. after sending out cancellation
of the strike order, accepted Secre-
tary Wilson's invitation to confer
ence with the operators Friday. Some
leaders asserted Chairman Brewster's
Invitation was trick of operators to
obtain a tacit Acknowledgement of the
Washington wage agreement and make
test of an injunction order carry-
Ing 1t to the Supreme Court If neces-
sary.
Charleston, w. Va, Nov. 1.-THE
1000 miners in district number
seventeen, which includes the great
er part of West Virginia and east
ern Kentucky, were ordered back
to work by District President Keeny
in a telegram tonight from Indian
apoiis.
Indianapolis. Ind. Nov. 11.-An or
der calling off the nationwide btu
minous coal strike was issued today.
following the decision of the general
committee of the United Mine Work
~ fn mandate
of u. S. District Judge A. B. Ander-
son. issued here last Saturday. The
general committee, composed of inter-
national officers and district pres1-
dents, and members of the executive
board and scale committee, reached Its
decision at 4: 10 this morning ana ad-
journed five minutes later to reconvene
at 2 o'clock this afternoon.
Gentlemen, we will comply with the
mandate of the court. We do 1t un-
der protest. We are Americans We
cannot fight our government. That is
all"
This was the statement of John L.
Lewis. acting president of the mine
workers, announcing the decision, ana
other members of the conference, ap-
parentIy worn out by their long hours
of discussion declined to add to the
statement of their chief and soon dis
persed.
The general committee had been in
session since shortly after 10 O'Clock
yesterday morning taking only pfiei
recesses for luncheon and dinner Tne
proceedings We're interrupted during
the afternoon session by the appear
ance of United States Marshal Marx
Storen and his deputies who served So
OF the officials with copies OF the
temporary injunction, issued saturday,
and returnable December i. The
writs in the restraining order were
made returna BILE November 20.
During the day approaches to the
entrances of the conference We're care
fully guarded by sergeant alarms
and during recesss a man remained on
guard in the hall, but in the later
hours of the conference the sergeant
alarms disappeared.
The speeches at times were i'm
passioned and voices from the hall
rose above the hubbub of the hotel in
which the conference was held, but only
work now and then was distinguish
able. 1t is understood all phases of
the question were argued and the ef-
feet various actions might have on the
organization entered into discussion,
but according to members not vote
was taken on any subject until the
action early today was decided upon.
The recall of the strike order will
open the way Immediately for a re-
sumption of the negotiations between
the miners and the operators. as the
operators have announced they would
be ready to consider new wage agree
ment at any time the strike order was
withdrawn. 1t is also understood the
question of arbitration entered largely
into the discussion in the final stages
of the meeting. but the miners po-
sition on this subject was not an
nounced.
The question of just how many coal
No. 3.-Continued on Page 2.