The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-11-07
NEGOTIATIONS TO
,continued from Page one,

Judge I. b. A1neS, assistant United
States attorney general, was expected
to arrive here today to confer with his
assistants regarding the answer they
will make to the petition asking dis
solution of the restraining order filed
by union attorneys.
Miners attorneys today prepared
briefs which they will submit to back
up their appeal for dissolution
If the judges ruling on the dissoIu-
ton petition is unfavorable to the
| miners. the fight will then center on
the governments appeal for a court
order demanding recall of the strike
order by union officials.
Critical Point.
This will be the most critical point
in the whole proceedings, attorneys
| for both sides agreed. Miners leaders
| believe they have shown that the men
will strike despite the courts restrain
| ing order preventing union officials
| from directing the strike. Government
representatives believe if they have the
additional advantage of withdra wal
| of the strike order, they will be able
| to induce the men to return to work.
Attorneys for the union will con-
| terd the union officials acted merely
as agents of the Cleveland convention
| in issuing the strike order and are
powerless to recall it.
| In case the injunction is granted
! miners representatives will ask that it
be modified SO that strike benefits may
! be paid.
Reports were circulated here today
that Acting President John L. Lewis
| of the United Mine Workers was -.
| communication with cabinet officials
regarding possible basis for strike
settlement.
| If these negotiations are successful,
| it was reported. attorneys tomorrow
will ask for continuation for one week
| of arguments on the injunction pro-
| ceedings
Lewis refused to comment on the
| reports.
| Prepare for Prolonged Strike.
Washington. Nov. 7.-Officials in
direct touch with the strike situation
apparently were preparing for pro-
| longed shutdown of the mines. While
! the railroad administration central
committee would not divulge details
| of its work members admitted that
| arrangements were being made for
| full conversion of fuel should the
strike become a bitter end' fight.
The decision to deny coal to foreign
| ships was accepted generally as pro-
| viding much additional fuel for do
nestle purposes. Complaints against
the cutting off of so much ocean tom
mage already have reached the COM
mittee. This move will materially af-
| feet the movement of commodities
needed by European nations in recon-
struetion work. but officials said the
emergency demands of the United
States must be the first consideration.
| In West Virginia miners continued
| to return in small numbers to union
shafts. according to reports here.
| The nonunion miners were being
/ given every encoura cement also to in
crease their output and officials re-
ported that production was increas-
| ing In some quarters. the belief pre-
vailed the strike on the edge of the
solid union districts was losing its
| force. The opinion expressed that the
| walkout in such areas was largely one
of sympathy and a adual detection
| of those miners from the union ranks
was possible.
Wilson Has Plan.
A new proposal for dealing with the
| coal strike situation has been framed
| by Secretary Wilson for presentation
to the cabinet when it meets today.
Altho Wilson refused to discuss his
| plans, the proposal does not include
further development of the injunction
proceedings, it was learned.
| Secretary Wilson from the first OBJ
| jected to the use of the injunction
machinery, it was understood. Now he
| is prepared to point out to the cabinet
that as a means of protecting the pub
lie from a fuel shortage, the injunc-
ton has proven failure.
| The secretary. it is learned. will pro-
pose that the administration press the
possible and depend upon negotiations
to bring the strike to close.
Cut Passenger Service.
passenger train service, discontinuance
of bunkering of foreign owned vessels
at American ports, restrictions in
some places of the use of public utili-
ties, and appeals for coal from various
cities as the strike of approximately
nAA hi nd IA u
rounded out it's first week, gave the
nation further indications of the dis
tress in store should there be a pro-
tracted suspension of mining opera
tons. Other disarrangements of the
country's routine were expected today,
with little change in the general con-
ditions surrounding the strike itself.
! Government agencies still remained
hopeful that developments tomorrow
at indianapolis, when the motion filed
by attorneys for the U. NJ. w. A. ask
ing dissolution of the restraining order
issued last week by Judge Anderson
will be argued, might point thesway
to early ending of the strike.
| To the states already reported suf-
fering from a coal shortage, Kansas,
| Nebraska. Alabama, and Iowa. today
was added Oklah Follow the
first law of nature, which is self
preservation, and take any coal you
can get your hands on was the re-
ply of Governor ]. B. A. Robertson.
of Oklahoma to one county's appeal
for aid.
While it officially was announced
by the director general of railroads
that no general curtailment of train
| service was contemplated sixty-six
trains today had been annulled in the
! central west Regional directors had
orders to eliminate service where alb
| solutely necessary in the public in
| terest.
reported that suffering by many FAM
lilies was imminent with the coming of
cold weather.
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