New-York tribune., 1919-10-27
y Neto yorir Tribune
WqsEfn0;,o F,,,.-.

Washington Burean
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26.-The Fcs
eral government marked time TO-DAY
waiting to see whether leaders Of tho
bltumlnous coal miners of he co,r
try would boldly defy President wI
son, refuse to call off the strike tho,
nave ordered for November and at-
tempt to withstand the power of the
government itself. The Administrator
has laid its hand on the table and tba
next move is up to the United Nino
Workers of America, and particular,
to John L. Lewis, president Of that or
ganization.
Mr.. Lewis, who left here last nigh
Tor Springfield, H., just before The
PRESIDENTS statement was issued. ha
not yet divulged what course he Wi
pursue. Word reached here 70 nigb
that when questioned in Bloominctor
ILL.,, he declined to state what would b..
ms attitude or that Of the miners tow
ard the Presidents statement. He ex-
pressed himself as thankful that he
lived IN country where workers could
strike. AS to the miners demands n,
said they were open TO negotiation. bur
he insisted that the war was over and
that the wartime agreement had ex-
pired. He said nothing about calling
off the strike.
Official Washington is speculafinc 70
night on what Mr. Lewis will do. II
conformity with the Presidents state
ment, he may cancel the strike order
and submit the grievances Of the men
to arbitration with the operators be
fore tribunal appointed by President
wilson He may accept the other sue-
gestlon Tor a peaceful settlement Of
Tered by the President and call a gen
eral convention of the miners to mass
upon the demands they Will make Of
the operators.
Lewis To Be Watched
If Mr.. Lewis decides "a take still
another course and refuse TO call the
strike off and arbtrate or cal, il of
and submit the questions involved Re
tne o0o,oo0 members of the United
wine " orkers. he must go on openly in
ueiahce OF the government and take the
consequences. From now on his move
ments wlli be watched closely. it is
salo, ana ne Will not be given any great
length of time to make his decision
hho"n. Ine strike is scheduled for
.ieHO SATURDAY. lne government is de-
termined waik-out shall not hegin In
any mine. 40 49,
The course the government will fol
low IS pain. Unless there is violence
or Osorder or unless there is omen dc
nance OF the Federal courts there will
De no recourse 10 troops. The Denar+
ment Of Justice, through the nronar
district attorneys, however. is pronared
70 proceed at any time to tie the hand,
u Ihe leaders of the-mlne workers
pioo&piy through temporary restrain.
ing orders or inlunctions. That such
oroers would be granted on the show
ing the district attorneys would be ahle
70 make that conspiracy s on foou 20
Vioiate the Lever Act and work irrn
arabic damage is not doubted her
II they are granted by the Feders1
courts no one knowing the present tenn
per OF the Administration feels for AN
instant that they viii not be enforced.
Action Against Lewis Probable
The first recourse would be TO ,ho
proper United States Narshals. and ,e
suftici lent deputy marshals could not be
obtained TO make enforcement certain
there probably would be no hesitancy
IN using troops, although such a move
Is not in contemplation now. Proceed
ings against. MIR. Lewis and other na-
tional leaders of the Mine Workers
probably will be taken first unless Il
is found necessary, in order 10 make
II certain that the strike shall fail TO
act against many local union heads az
the same time
The fact that the Lever act has Grim
inal provisions may serve to give
some of the leaders something to think
about before they permit the strike TO
be come effective, for if Administration
leaders interpret public. feeling right.
any leader who had to ace Jury on
a faQnA inrnlysnv cf~t}