South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-11
Striking Coal Miners Must
Accept Verdict to Avoid
Government Action.
VIOLATE FEDERAL STATUTE
Attorney General Sums Up
Attitude Taken by Coun-
try in Crisis.

lnN ArcffllaltL IN"rN
WASHINGTON. Nov 1o.-Soleu1n
warning was given the United Mine
Workers OF America tonight by
Atty. Gen. Palmer that resolutions
Of conventions and orders OF Off
GERS Of organizations are not above
the law
Formal and final declaration ~
the governments policy Of dealing
with the coal strike was announced
by the attorney general while Off
GERS Of the miners orcaniza ton AZ
indianapolis were struggling with
the question OF how TO answer the
courts blunt and peremptory COM
mand TO rescind the strike order
Describing the strike as "a plain
violation OF a federal statute. AR
Palmer. speaking with authority ~
the government, announced that al
the power OF the United states
would be exerted TO enforce the
mandate OF the court
Fight TO Finish.
Although no reference was made
in the attorney generals statement
10 the pronouncement of organized
labor. supporting the miners and
] demanding withdrawal OF injunction
/ proceedings. IL was evident that Mr.
/ Palmer had that document in mind
and Official Washington accepted his
/ declaration to mean that refusal Of
Z the miners to cancel their strike or
der would mean a fight 10 the bitter
end.
The statement OF the attorney
general, which was construed as
reply 10 the position Of organized
labor as set forth last night by the
American Federation Of Iabor's cx-
/ ecutive council, follows.
The coal strike is a plain viola
ton of a federal statute This has
been the governments position from
the start. The president. after fun
hearing. has now declared IL 10 De
unlawful
Enforce Law.
"All ! can say IS that the law viii
be enforced This same law bias
been enforced many times and Jhe
department OF justice has other
cases now pending which were
brought under it. The merits OF the
4 controversy between the operators
and miners are not involved be- the
court proceedings at Indianapolis.
neither is the right to strike. Noth-
ing that the Eovcrnmeat has done.
] is intended or designed 10 have amy
effect upon the recognized right ~
labor 20 organize 90 bargain cole
Iectively through its unions. and un-
( der ordinary industrial conditions
90 walk out bv concerted action.
"The proposal hy the president %
"a peaceful settlement OF tho mat
ters at issue between tho operators
and tho miners. through negotiation
/ or arbitration. was rejected AMI the
government therefore. faced tho a'-
Tentative Of submitting % the de-
mands Of "a single group. ~ tho ire
reparablc injury ~ tho whole poo
pie. or Of challenging the assertion
by that group of power greater than
that of the government itself
DUTY Clear.
Confronted with such q course.
the governments duty was perfectly
clear; it refused 10 surrender 90 The
dictation Of group and IT. propose
20 assert its power 20 protect itse|f
and the people, who DO is designed
TO serve The government ir no re-
specter ~ persons iu tho enforce
ment Of the law Those who con-
ceiyo that the resolutions of a cone
yentiou or The orders of the officers
Of amy organization in the country.
whether labor organizations or any
other. are superior ir authority 20
the law ~ the land wif fnd then-
selves mistaken.
"I assume that the order of tho
dents offer for peaceful settle
ment IS still open and 7 hope that
the miners and operators 1ill now
get together and settle their conrro-
versv.'