Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-10-25
Government Council in Ses-
sion to Devise Means to
Meet Situation.
STERN ACTION MAY
BE DECIDED UPON
Drastic Measure Not Unlikely and Ore
Member Declares He 10 Ready For
the Fight-Leok Upon Action Of
Miners as "Mass Attack Upon the
Government"-Lewis UnyieIdins and
Says Strike Will Be Called at Hour
Set.


son today thru secretary of Ia
Dor. Wilson summoned the cabinet
In special session to consider the strike
Of coalNninerS called for next Saturday.
Director General Hines was asked to
meet with the cabinet to present the
situation from the standpoint of the
railroads.
Secretary Lansing was confined to
tend. All the other members were pre-
sent and Secretary Glass presided. Sec
retary Tumulty was present to con-
vey the view Of the president on the
situation. ..
AS they entered the White House
the cabinet officials declined to make
any forecast. Some members were said
to believe that stern action was neces-
sary in view Of the grave industrial
situation. >
Ready For the Fight.
II am ready for the fight" said one
member Of the cabinet.
While there apparently was no dis
position to criticise either the operators
or miners for the failure Of the nego-
tiations conducted by Secretary Will
son, officials who discussed the situa-
ton spoke Of q mass attack on the
government. There seemed to be doubt
whether the government would issue
a statement regarding the coal strike.
On the face Of the situation was the
cost Of coal to the public during the
cfr cat hn fol "
mittee' working to reduce the cost of
living would probably add coal to the
commodities on which they have is
sued fair prices.
Officials said the department Of JUS
tice would not undertake to set ma
tional price for coal because OF the Diff
ference between mining costs and
freight rates, but that the question
would be handled locally.
While no definite action had been
taken when the cabinet recessed,
Secretary Tumulty said the morning
session disclosed that the presidential
family was of one mind and mot bit
wobbling."
He added that when the program
was presented to the president he was
expected to make public statement.
Postmaster General Burleson said the
discussion was to find some basis Of
settlement between capital and labor.
Lane to Agitatcd.
Secretary Lane wrote President
Wilson today supporting the resolution
of the public group that new confer
ence be called at once to carry on the
work-of the cofercnce.
The industrial conference never
really got started. At its birth ques-
tions arose which It was not prepared
to meet then. This should not end the
effort to end Industrial problems by
good sense instead Of force. Oh, for q
few days Of re9l sense. Oh. for a few
days OF composure-whsn without BIT
terness we could look at our problems
and meet them with our usual hope
fullness a"sN
."Recklessness is in our blood, a great
willingness to take risks we have no
right to take. We will suffer from
this spasm of Mysteries on all sides. S
II want to see a new conference that
will think in practical terms. A real
conference against industrial warfare,
which some people think II bound to
come"
LswIs Upylsldlns.
Just before the cabinet met John d.
Lewis sent word to the miners that
work would stop next Friday night.
Lewis said the strike would last until
the government is able to induce the
stubborn operators to Deal with the
mon who'mine the coal, and one mans
guess is az good as another on that"
he added. Bskore leaving for homo
members of the miners scale commit
tee said that they realized that public
sentiment u largely against the min
ers. but said that It would change on
the nrst evidence Of profltsering.
Lewis, in a formal statement,
charged that the operators did not
want to> make a new agreement, be-
cause that would deprive them OF the
chance Of raising prices. "ConsuMers
are being required to pay more for coal
already than q week or month ago."
said Lewis, "and they may expect to
pay more from now on, ~ tho oper-
ators arc now reaping = harvest e a
sssG!: e the .trtkc ceM. The nrlns Of
coal at q number of mines has been
raised 2 dollar or two ton
Operators. be declared. were refus-
Ing to deliver coal to state institutions
whose governors have wired miners
organizations for relief, which we are
unable to grant.
In the senate Senator Thomas IN
tfoduced . resolution: calling .on the
executive branch OF the governnsnt
to "vindicate the power and majesty
Of the lAw In the threatened strike
The resolution. which n to be called
up Monday. says the strike would
provoke violence and bloedshsd. The
resolution would pledge the undivided
s6p2syt - oangrsss to ths national