Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-25
Presidents Advisers
Favor Stern Meas
ures to>Protect
the Public.
LEWIS in A DEFIANT
MOOD AS HE DEPARTS
Resolution Would Pledge Congress
to Back Administration in
"Vindicating Law"

'Vindicating Law"
After discussing the impending
strike of bituminous coal miners
for more than two hours toca!',
President Wilson's cabinet i'd
1ourued at 20 pm. to meet again
at $50 Pm.
The cabinet members, leaving tine
White House, said that there wouid
he nothing to give out now. IL
anything Ii decided upon to make
public, they said, Secretary Glass;
who presided, will be the spokes-
man.
Postmaster General Burieson
said government operation OF inc
con, mines had not been discussed
nv the cabinet. He said the pur-
nose of the discussion was to find
some basis of settlement between
capital and labor. None OF the
other cabinet officials would dis
cuss what transpired Mt the meet
ing.
A definite program to be placed
before President Wilson as to the
sovernment's attitude In the strike
will be formulated by the cabinet
this afternoon, 1T Was said Mt the
White House.
President Wilson today through
Secretary Thmulty summoned the cab
met in special session to consider the
strike of bituminous coal miners
called for next Saturday. Director
General Hines of the railroad ad-
ministration was asked to meet with
the cabinet to present the situation
from the standpoint of the railroads
Director General Hines was warned
today in . letter from the National
Wholesale Coal AssoefatYen that white
the coal dealers did not question the
right Of the railroads to confiscate
coal mined for the dealers, they would
demand compensation for such action
not merely on the basis. of the fuel.
value, but also on. the basis OF damags
TO business and other factors affecting
the reputst of the dealers.
Secretary Lansing Absent.
Secretary Lansing was confined t.
Ills home with cold and could no
attend. All other members of tn
Presidents official family were pres
emit and Secretary Glass presided
Secretary Tumulty was present t.
convey the views of President viii
son on the situation.
AS they entered the White Hous
the cabinet officials declined to max
any forecast. Some members. how
ever, were said to hold the belle
that stern action was necessary II
the face of the grave Industrial sit
uation existing over the countrv.
Il am for the fight" said one mem
Der of the cabinet.
While there. apparently, was no dis
position to criticise either the opera
tors or miners for the failure of tn
negotiations conducted by Secretar
Wilson. officials who discussed tn
situation spoke of mass attack o.
the government"
Doubt Issuing of Statement.
the cabinet would issue statemen
as to the governments attitude re
garding the coal strike. In Whit
House circles the thought was tina
the governments position could bes
formal statement to the public. Som
officials thought the cabinet woul
recommend this course.
In the Senate Senator Thomas intro
duced a resolution calling upon tn
executive branch of the government [
viz o a M CT nf n
law in the threatened strike The reso
luton, which is to be called up Monday
declares the strike would provoke vic
lence, bloodshed and instruction"
The resolution would pledge the ICON
slant. continuous and unqualified sup
port" of Congress TO 1.-The national ad
ADMINISTRATION and all others in authority
in meeting 1.-The great emergency con
fronting US"
May Add Coal to List.
One phase of the situation whic
most officials had in mind was the
of costs of coal to the public durin
the threatened strike. 1t was sal
that fair price committees workin
with Attorney General Palmer to re
duce the cost of living probably woul
add coal to the commodities on whic
they have issued fair prices. Oficia
said the Department of Justice woul
not undertake to set a national pri(
for coal, because of the difference
between mining costs and freigl
rates. but that the question would
handled locally.
Just before the cabinet met, John
Lewis, president of the United Mil
Workers of America. sent word
unions throughout the country tn;
work in the mines would stop ne!
Friday night
Lewis said the strike would la
until the government is able to il
duce the stubborn coal operators
deal humanely with the men who mil
the coal.
And one mans guess Is as good
another's on that he added.
Change in Opinion Predicted.
Before leaving for home members
the miners full scale committee sa
they realized now that public sent
ment was largely against the miner
but contended there would be quit
change with the first evidence
pr~fiteering.
Lewis, in formal statement. charg,
that the operators did not want
make a new wage agreement becau
that would deprive them of the chan
or raising prices"
Consumers already are being reQuir,
1 to nay more for coal than they paid
lcontinued on Second Page.l