The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-11-01
WORK FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE

george b. Mccormack, president OF
the Alabama Coal Operators associa-
ton stated yesterday afternoon that
he could make no statement that would
throw any new light on the situation
Il don't know of thing | can say,
he said. I'VE will operate our mines
if the men want to work"
He stated that it was impossible to
estimate the number of men who would
be absent from the mines this morn
ing.
Other operators were positive in
their statements that their mines
would be in operation today just like
any other day in the past few weeks.
One prominent operator was SO con-
fident that all of his employees would
be on the job that he made sub
stantial wager that the output would
be greater today than it has been at
any time within recent months. And
am going to win the bet" he de-
clared with emphasis.
President J. r. Kennamer of district
No. 20, and National Organizer Will
liam L. Harrison returned yesterday
morning from Indianapolis, where they
attended the conference of national
committee and district presidents
Thursday.
SAYS STRIKE ORDER STANDS
"The situation is unchanged" Mr..
Kennamer said yesterday afternoon.
THE strike order stands and the miners
will strike tomorrow in accordance
with that ORDER
Mr.. Kennamer is member of the
executive committee of the natioaal
body. He stated yesterday afternoon
that he had no information as to the
Injunction order issued al Indianapolis
except what he had read in the papers
The order will probably be served on
him today or tomorrow. 1t could not
reach birmingham in the ordinary
course before noon today and probably
not before late in the afternoon.
"The attitude of labor is not to
recognize or obey injunctions,-
said william T.. Harrison. national
organizer in the Birmin CHAM dis
trict. 81 was surprised to see the
government resort to the injunc-
tion to start with. Attorney Gem
eraI Palmer made a statement re-
Gently that the government would
NOT use the Injunction in this mat
ter, but intimated that they would
us. such authority as was given
ther, under the Lever net.
s'However, the Injunction only
antagonizes and intensifies tho
situation cnd will go very long
way towards bringing into action
tne American Fe0erat1On OF Labor
and the railroad brotherhoods, who
are directly interested in the in
junction matter.
NOT TO OBEY INJUNCTION
"'The American Federation of La
Dor is committed to the policy not
to obey injunctions. The use of the
injunction in labor matters has been
used to such an extent to repreSs
labor in it's lawful and constitu-
tional rights that the American
Federation of Labor saw fit to take
the action spoken off,
Mr.. Harrison estimated that from o.
oW to 5000 men would strike this morn
ing and that Monday the number would
be considerably increased.
In view of the fact that there are only
ABOUT 26,oO00 miners and mine workers
IN this district, every mine in the dis
trict would be compelled to close down.
II Mr.. Harrisons estimate of the num-
Der or strikers proves correct
operators expressed opinion that not
over 1900 men would strike
Every arrangement for carrying the
strike order into effect has been made
The order was delivered to the locals
about week or ten days ago. supple
mental instructions have been issued by
President Kennamer of the birmingham
district organization, and mass meetings
have been held throughout the district
TELEGRAM FROM LEWIS
Mr.. Kennamer yesterday, about noon.
received the following telegram from
President Lewis of the national body:
'Our position remains unchanged
Strike order issued October Is be-
comes effective at midnight tonight,
and all of its provisions We enter
the greatest industrial contest serene
in the knowledge that our cause is
just and are acting in conformity
with our rights guaranteed by con-
stituaonal law of the United States
JOHN LEWIS
1t was not known here whether Mr..
Lewis sent out this telegram before the
federal judge at Indianapolis had is
sued the injunction order, but later
press dispatches from indianapolis
quoted Mr.. Lewis as saying that he had
sent no kilograms subsequent to the
service of the order on him.
There are 81 officers and members
OF the national organization and it is