New-York tribune., 1919-11-12
No Vote Taken by Lead
ers; Lewis and Green
Make Decision After
Hearing the Discussion
We Are Americans
Their Explanation
Washington Now Looked
To for Action to Adjust
Grievances of Workers
By Theodore M. Knappen

by theodore M. Knappen
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 11.-John l..
Lewis, acting president, and William
Green, sccretarv, made the crucial de-
cision that the United Mine Workers
Of America would bow to the will of
the government and the mandate OF
the court. The hundred odd delegates
to the meeting that wrestied from 10
o'clock yesterday morning until this
morning with the bitter question of
to obey or not to obey, talked, and
Lewis and Green listened.
When the last taikcr had talked and
there was nothing more 10 be said
Lewis, who had conferred privately
with Green from time to time through
the night and had passed hours pacing
up and down the hall outside the meet
ing room in the throes OF indecison
arose and informed the assemblagc tina.
after having listened TO all arguments S
and having viewed the problem from
every angle, in the light OF all the
advice and discussion, he had decided
that the interests Of the mine work.
ers would best be served by yielding
to the temporary injunction aad man.
date issued by Judge anderson.
No Vote Taken On Decision
There was no vote. Lewis asked for
none, and no member of the confer
ence demanded it. The authority and
responsibility were with Lewis and
Green. They did not seek to shift the
one nor evade the other. They con-
sidered the assembled officers as ad-
visers and counselors, and, moreover
feared to chance an adverse vote. The
decision was received in silence By the
weary council, and almost without a
word the members arose aud left the
rcom
I'VE are Americans. We cannot fight
our government, SAID Lewis. convey
ing the decision 70 the newspaper men
I'VE comply with the mandate OF the
court, but under protest.
The surrender having been decided
upon, it vas promptly put into form.
At 9:40 this morning Attorney Henry
Warrum,, accompanied by Attorneys G
l.. Grant, Of Fort Smith, Ark, and
Fred c. Huebner, of Abba, Iowa, called
at Judge Anderson's chamber in the
Federal Building. where they met Dis
trict Attorney l.. f. Slack and Daniel
w. Simms, special assistant United
States Attorney. charged with enforc-
ing the restraining order and the in
junction, and handed them the strike
recall order sigred by Lewis and Green.
The government attorneys compared it
with the strike order, and when Judge
Anderson entered the room passed il
over to him.
Court Approves Action
THAT complies with the order, as
take it, doesn't it?' asked the judge
as he glanced it over. "Now let me
see the strike order"
81 think this is a compliance with
the ORDER" continued Judge Anderson,
after a moments pause. II think it is
a good faith compliance"
The government attorneys asscnted.
Mr. Warrum said a goodfaith com
pliance was the intention of his clients,
and explained to the court that every
effort would be made to have the order
in the mails. and on the way to every
LEGAL union By 6 o'clock tonight, bat
that it Was possible that the work
might rot be completed by the ulti-
matum hour.
"a good faith effort is all that is
required,'' was Judge Anderson's re-
spOnse.
Attorneys for the mine workers then
discussed with Mr.. Simms the advis-
ability of their clients issuing q public
statement, setting forth their grev-
ances and demands, so the public
might be informed of the merits of the
controversy, and also concerning the
steps that should be taken by the gov
ernment to hasten an amicable settle
ment of the dispute.
Negotiation Declared Earned
On the latter point, Nh. Wprrum
said:
THE operators havs repeatedly de-
cared they We're ready TO enter into
negotiations with tho miners il the
strike order were withdrawn. Tie gov
ernment has taken the position that in
the vindication OF its own supremacy
the strike order must be withdrawn
before it would take any steps to compel
the resumption of such negotiations
The issue has been submitted to the
court, and in compliance with the
courts ruling the strike order has
bcen canoe eu ard withdrawn. It seems
to me that good faith on the part Of
the operators requires them to meet
the miners representatives at once
for the purpose Of negotiating q set
tlement of this wage controversy; and
that good faith on the part of the gov
ernment requires ii to sec that such a
resumption of negotiations IS neld at
once and concluded without delay"
Although the members Of the con-
ference are sore and humiliated they
gave every evidence day Of intending
to back up their submission 70 the
courts order, and use all their author
ity and influence to send the miners
back to work. AS to how quickly and
Co1tanued on 1ert page