The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-11-10
OFFICERS OF MINERS
ARE IN CONFERENCE
Union Coal Miners Contend
That the Officers of the
Union Have No Author
ity to Suspend the Strike
Order, Because Decision
to Strike Was Made by
Convention.

w
leaders predicted to-day that interna-
tional officers Of the United Mine Work
ers of America, meeting at Indianap-
oils. would not call off the coal strike
as directed by Federal Judge Anderson,
whatever the legal consequences might
be.
White House officials refused to-day
to comment on the federation state
ment.
"The situation is in the hands Of the
courts Secretary Tumulty said, add
ing: "This is no time to get cold feet" "
One of the spokesmen for the min
ers' organization said he doubted il
Acting President Lewis and his asso-
ciates had the power, even if they had
the inclination, to comply with the
mandate.
"The strike was ordered by dele
gate convention in thesevent the oper-
ators refused to grant our demands"
the spokesman said, 'and Lewis merely
carried out instructions in ordering the
strike. The convention must call it
off"
Frank Morrison, secretary of the
American Federation Of Labor, would
not add anything to the statement is
sued last night by the executive coun-
ell supporting the striking miners and
demanding that the government with
draw the injunction proceedings.
"That was the statement of the ex-
ecutive council and it speaks for it
self" Morrison said. 81 am not here TO
interpret it."
The federation secretary had been
asked for a statement in view Of the
orinion in some quarters that the pro
nouncment of organized labor was no
tice to the striking miners to stand
pat.
"There is nothing to add" Mr., Nor
rison replied. THAT question has al
ready been asked number of times to-
day and if YOU want an answer you
will have to assemble the council"
Attorney General Palmer and other
administration officials refused to com
ment on the federation's statement, but
they indicated that there would be no
change in the governments position re-
garding the strike.
Indianapolis, Nov. l0-Officials Of
the United Miners of America, nclud-
ing Acting President John t. Lewis, and
Secretary Treasurer William Green,
and members OF the executive council,
met here to-day to discuss Judge An
derson's order issued ON Saturday di-
recting the union heads to call off the
strike order. At the meeting were dis
trict presidents, members of the ex-
ecutive board of the organization and
the entire personnel of the miners scale
committee.
Members of the general committee
whoarrived last night and early this
morning, would not comment on the
strike situation.
The majority of the miners officers
seemed to take their cue from the
statement issued last night by John l.
Lewis, acting president of the mine
workers, in which he said statements
to the effect that ! shall or shall not
comply with the mandatory proceeding
of the injunction writ are unauthorized
and premature"
Reports from the various coal fields
since the strike was called indicate
that many union men contend that the
general committee of the miners has nc
authority to reseind the order for the
strike which, they assert, was decided
upon by the regular convention of the
United Mine Workers, meeting in
Cleveland in September.
II was not known this morning what
action was contemplated by the govern.
ment in the event that the recall or.
der should be issued by the general
committee, but not obeyed by individ.
ual members of the union. A hint, how,
ever, was given during the proceedings
in the United States district court Sat.
urday, when Judge Anderson said 'tht
Lever act makes it an unlawful con
spiracy for two or more persons to ar
range to limit the production of coal
That is perfectly apparent to me. Ev
erybody knows that. No action, it wa,
said, is planned by the government un
Ill after the time limit set by Judg,
Anderson for the issuance of the strik'
recall order Meanwhile attorneys fo
the union were said to be busy pre-
pairing their case for an appeal to th'
United States circuit court Of appeal
in Chicago.
All members of the general commit
tee of the mine workers, including in
ternational officers, district presidents
and the members of the executive boar,
and scale committee, were present, j
was said, when the conference assem-
bled in the Lincoln hotel shortly befor
ii o'clock.