Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-07
GOVERNMENT TURKS
DOWN proposal. To
VACATE INJUNCTION
Labor Leaders, DiSappoint-
ed by Governments Firm
ness, Predict Long :
Drawn -Out Contest


production, sale, shipment, apportion-
ing anthracite and coke, was given
Federal Fuel Administrator Garfield
today by an executive order signed
by President Wilson.
The government cannot accept the
proposal of organized labor to end the
coal strike by vacating the injunction
lag inst the officials of the United
Mine Workers of America. Assistant
| Attorney General Ames, in the alb
sence of Attorney General Palmer
announced today the government
could not abandon its position be-
cause the strike was in vioaltion OF
law.
Judge Ames issued the following
statement:
"The strike is a violation of law.
AS long as it continues. we are
going to proceed in the courts. The
dispute between the mine owners
and workers is an entirely different
question that they can settle in their
own way. The government cannot
tolerate continued violation of the
law such as this strike constitutes"
Refusal Of the government to va
cate the injunction means a long
fight in the coal fields. while it's with
drawal would have opened the way
for settlement of the strike within
forty-eight hours, according to Edgar
Wallace. legislative representative of
the United Mine Workers of America.
Labor leaders who had taken a
hopeful view of the strike situation
after hearing of Samuel Gompers'
suggestion for a settlement, were
plainly disturbed by news that the
department of Justice would let the
injunction stand. All agreed it
would keep the strike goirg for some
time. This also was the view of
operators.
Coal Supply Cut Two Thirds.
The coal strike has reduced bv
tWo-thirds the nations fuel supply.
according to reports received here
today. Vice Presid It Morrow of
/ the National Coal association estim-
ated that bituminous production is
now approximately 100000 tons a
Gay in spite of the walkout of the
$4,000 liners. This, he said, is
about one third of the nations
ttOI maj PLOuuClIOIl
The coal strike is already begin
ming to affect other classes of
workers, according to W. G. Lee.
head of the Brotherhood of Rail-
way Trainmen. He said today:
Many hundreds Of railroad workers
have been laid off or are on part
time as result of the strike. One
railroad has cut down it's sched-
lles to the barest minimum dead
weight freight and is. carrying only
perishables and necessities"
Efforts to Settle
The second full day of The walk
out disclosed no less than three
separate efforts to reach a basis of
possible settlement with both operat-
or') and miners confident of he out
come. Coincidentally, John J. Lew s,
acting president o tn United Mine
Workers of America, broke IS sill
ence for the first time since he was
served with restraining order from
t. court of Federai Judge Anderson
in Indianapolis last Friday. Mr.
Lewis said.
"The machinery of the joint sys-
tenn Of bargaining in the mining in
dustry is intact. 1t would he SIM
pie matter for the government and
the coal operators again to set it in
motion to nc gotiate a wage agree
ment."
One effort to reach basis of
agreement Cor possible settlement of
the strike came from Washington at
conference there between Fede~ll
Fuel Administrator Garfield and j.
D. A. Morrow, president Of the Ma
tional Coal association, an organiza-
ton of the leading coal operator; of
tn nation. What proposals the fuel
administrator had to make were not
disclosed.
The second effort Cor a settlement
came from A. L. Faulkner, federal
commissioner of Cancellation. at
Cleveland. in the suggestion that the
government withdraw its injunction
against the coal strike leaders at
once and that the miners return to
work under a guarantee of a wage
increase of Is to 20 per cent effec-
tivr November / or upon their 'etu"n
to work.
A third effort was seen in the in
PRODUCTION in the senate of a resolu-
tiol by Chairman Kenyon, of the
senate labor committee. proposing a
special presidential commission 70 at
leIHpL dIUll' dllOU vi lllc oll lNC' L iiN
measure was referred to that CT l.
mittee without discussion.
IT still is estim ated that approx
mately 425.000 miners are out, while
operators of non-union mines claim
70 be running at capacity.
Government officials are of the
opinion that the broad powers of
/ the restraining order issued last Fri
day soon will bring the strike to
q head. At the same time attorneys
for both sides are preparing for a
finish fight on the hearing to make
the injunction permanent.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. Nov. 6.-At-
torneys for the United Mine Work
ers planned to ask federal Judge
A. B. Anderson today to dissolve the
restraining order preventing officials
of the union from furthering the
strike of coal miners.
A petition was to be presented in
! accordance with the court rule that
such appeals must be made two days
in advance of arguments. The in
junction is to be argued Saturday.
By taking this action the miners
will be assuming the offensive in the
legal battle started in federal court
by Judge c.. B. Ames, assistant at
| torney general, in obtaining the re-
Straining order.
INCREASE IN SOFT COAL
PRODUCTION INDICATED
WASHINGTON, Nov. 6.-Informa-
| tor in the hands of government Off
Gals in touch with the strike situa-
ton today indicated an incrtase in
| luminous coal production. especial
ly in the West Virginia field. A fur
! Their detection of union forces was
| noted il the early morning reports,
although officials were not able to
say whether the break in the union
ranks was in ereasing to any great
extent. This phase of the situation
is being watched closely by the gov
eminent department particularly