The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-17
WOULD FORCE
MINERS RETURN
Operators May Call for vigor.
GUS Pressure of Federal
Court Mandate.
MINERS REL AIN IDLE

Warrington, Nov. 17.-Ope rators
in the soft coal industry today eon.q
sidered calling upon the department.
Of Justice to enforce more vigorousr
the federal mandate against the strl ~
ing miners and to force resumpt s
of work in those districts where
mon walked out Nov. I. -
The government has not done its
full duty in merely requiring the
withdrawal of the strike order, sew
eral operators declared, pointing out
that general stoppage Of production
Of coal exists in many mines employ
ing union labor.
Notices of the withdrawal Of the
strike order were sent out on plain
paper instead of official stationery
and without the organization seal,
and fac-simile signatures Of the Of
ficers of tho United Mine Workers of
America. 1t was said.
Meantime the joint wage scale
committees of the miners and op-
orators In the central competitive field
renewed negotiations on the demands
of the workers for go per cent. In
crease, six-hour work day, and a
fve-day week. The sessions are ex-
ecutive.
John L. Lewis. acting president of
the United Mine Workers Of Amer
lea, and other leaders, were expected
to take the position that they have
complied with the court order in call
Ing off the strike and that they can
go no further.
Ohio Miners Idle.
Cleveland, O., Nov. 17.--Ohio min
ers entered upon another week of
idleness today--the third since the
calling of the nationwide strike of
soft coal miners and the second since
the resembling of the strike call by
order of the federal court.
With the exception of wagon, mines
and coal stripping operations, pro.
duction of coal in the state is at 4
standstill. And there is no apparent
intention on the part of the miners
to return to work until they "know
what they are going to get"
Illinois Mines Tied Up.
Springfield, ILL.,, Nov 17.--Soft coal
miners in Illinois were idle again to-
day In furtherance or their strike for
higher wages and shorter hours. The
th2rd' week of the tfesup apparently
found the mine workers in this sta u
determined to stay out until assured
Of satisfactory wage agreement, d.
spite the order of their officials res
ending the strike call under cou. t
compulsion.
Inclined to Wait.
Chicago, Nov. 17.--While operators |
and union leaders had predicted re-
sumption today of mines on a large |
scale in the bituminous coal fields Of
the country, only in West Virginia |
were both sides confident that "all |
the men" would be back at work |
during the way.
In the other large producing fields |
the men showed a disposition in most |
cases to await further results Of the |
conference at Washington of opera
tors and union officials over a new |
wage agreement, before returning to |
work.
10000 Remain Out.
Springfield, ILL.,, Nov. 17.--Reports |
received today at state union miners |
headquarters are that the 10000 min |
ers of Illinois are determined to re-
main away from the mines until On |
agreement Is reached at the Washing |
ton conference. Complete shutdowns |
of all mines in the state are recorded |
by coal operators here.
Operators Not Ready.
The operators today declared they |
were not ready to continue the nego- |
tiations and the morning session was |
postponed. The operators then went |
into private session and it was un- |
derstood they were to attempt to |
draft a counter-proposal to make to |
the miners.
Before going into session Thomas
Brewster, chairman of the operators |
wage scale committee, said:
We are going to try to devise ways |
and means to reach an agreement |
that will protect the operators, pro-
tect the public and protect the |
miners"
No Steps Against Miners.
Washington, Nov. 17.-The depart
ment Of justice will take no steps
against miners who are not returning
to work pending negotiations for a
new wage scale, it was officially an
nounced today. Should the negotia-
tions extend beyond a reasonable
time, and the miners still refuse to
work, the department will then pro-
ceed to enforce the injunction orders,
il was stated.
Wyoming Miners Back.
Sheridan, Wyo., Nov. 17.--Virtually
all northern Wyoming miners re-
turned to work today.
Resume Work in Maryland.
Cumberland, Md, Nov. 17.-There
was general resumption of mining |
in the upper Potomac and Georges
creek coal fields today, according to
the statements of leading operators
here. Ninety per cent. of the strik-
ing miners returned in the upper Po-
tomac region and 10 per cent. in the
Georges creek mines, they said, BE-
tween 5000 and 10000 miners were
out in these two fields.
lndianans Hold Out.
Indianapolis, Ind, Nov. 17.--No
union miners returned to work in the
Indiana bituminous coal fields today.
1t was generally conceded today by |
members of the Indiana Coal Opera
tors association that no coal will be
mined in district No. II until an
q is aaohad in Wo in pto on