The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1919-10-30
COAL MINERS REFUSE
TO CALL OFF STRIKE
ARTSFRIDAY night

strike order Of the United Mine Work.
ers effective Friday midnight stands.
After two hours discussion the con.
ference here today Of officials of the
big union, IL was announced had no
idea OF modifying the call for cessa-
tion OF work. President Wilson's pro.
nouncemcnt on the threatened indus
trial war had no defender in the con-
ference, it was stated.
The meeting of the miners was
not called to order and the doors
closed until IL o'clock. Only about
three-fourths of the number EXPECT
ed were present then.
The grounds on which this decision
was reached will be explained in a
statement to the public which prob.
ably will be issued late today. A COM
mittee to draw up this statement wa,
appointed and given three hours in
which to prepare it, the conference
adJourning until 4 p. m.
AS explained by Ellis Searles, editor
OF the unions magazine and official
spokesman for the conference, the
statement will "set before the Ameri-
can people the exact situation from
the miners standpoint" and will
cover all aspect of the problem. He
brought out that it will not be specific
ally an answer to the president but
will discuss Mr.. Wilson's stand as
one Of the incidents of the strike sit
uation.
I'm fact" he added, this organiza-
ton does not know officially that
President Wilson ever uttered such IA
statement. No copy of it has come to
US, but we have accepted the news
paper version of it as substantially
correct"
did anyone in the conference de-
fend the presidents stand?" he was
asked.
mot one. On the contrary, every
speaker who touched on it expressed
he thought that President Wilson's
action was calculated to embitter
rather than mollify the mine workers."
The committee which is to draft the
public statement consists OF William
Green, secretary treasurer Of the un-
ion, and the following district presi-
dents: Phillip Murray, Pennsylvania;
John Moore, Ohio; Edward Stewart,
Indiana; Frank Harrington, Illinois.
These districts comprise the bulk
of the competitive field. Their ex-
ecutive reported to the conference tha,
the union members in them are 100
per cent in favor Of the Cleveland
wage policy and similar reports came
from other districts.
'In view of this unanimity of oplni
on it would be folly for anyone to
expect out Of this conference any ac-
ton tending to change the present
policy of the United Mine Workers"
said Mr.. Searles. "It is an essential
part Of that policy, however, that we
remain willing to negotiate with the
operators at any time they do not in.
sist upon impossible conditions
1t was indicated by several members
OF the conference that its business
probably would be wound up tonight.
The executive board Of the Lniun will
meet in separate session tomorrow.
Washington, Oct. 29.-The govern
ment Is prepared u take drastic steps
to deal with conditions arising in the
coal fields IL the executive !oard oil
the United Mine Workers of America
permits the strike order to stand.
This became known today after Fed
eral Fuel Administrator Garfield had
been summoned from Massachusetts
TO discuss the situation with Secretary
Tumulty.
Mr.. Garfield left q memorandum
on the coal situation for President
Wilson. He was hopeful that The
strike could be averted and that it
would not be necessary to revive the
fuel administration, which under the
Lever food control act, still would re-
tain its war time authority over the
nations fuel supply.