Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-07


Neither the attorney general nor
the labor chief would say what had
transpired. Mr.. Gomperb' manner
indicated. however. that he regard
ed the outlook Of settling the strike
% hopeful. The general impress
sion was that the government
would agree tomorrow to q post
ponement Of all court proceedings
against the mine union officials for
one week.
Washington, Nov. THE strike
Of bituminuu1 coal miners IN par
tieular and tho Industrial situation
IN general were discussed By Presi-
dent Wilson's cabinet today at
special meeting called by Secretary
Lansing. Of the state department.
Fuel Administrator Garfield and
Director-0 General Hines Of the rail-
road administration, were present.
Before the cabinet assembled adj
ministration spokesmen reiterated
that the government was unalter-
ably opposed to- the proposal Of
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
American Federation of Labor, that
the Injunction suit against the
Vnited Mine Workers of America,
pbe withdrawn as q preliminary to
the ending Of the strike and the
negotiation of q new agreement be-
tween the miners and operators.
Oflcers said that the govern
ment's offer to arbitrate the con-
troversy as soon as the strike, order
was withdrawn still was open and
that unless 1t was accepted and the
strike ended there was no course
for the government except to press
the Injunction suit
GomperS Renews Effort.
Before Attorney General Palmer
went to the cabinet meeting. Sam
uel Gompers, president; Matthew
Wool, vice president, and Frank
Morrison, secretary of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor. called on
him and were informed that the
government had not altered It's de-
cision to press injunction proceed
! ings unless the strike order was
Withdrawn.
Mr.. Gompers expressed the opin-
ion that q settlement Of the strike
could not be reached II the gos-
ernmept enforced legal measures
again1t tho strike. He also again
called attention to what he said
would BE- the effect of the govern
ment injunction, upon organized
labor generally.
Prepare For Long Tleup.
Offlcials in direct touch with the
strike situation. apparently we're
preparing for . prolonged shut
, down of the mines. While the rail-
road administration central COM
mittee would net divulge details of
its work, members admitted that
arrangements were being made for
conservation Of fuel should the
strike become q ."bitter end" fight.
Tho decision to deny coal to for
eign ships was accepted generally
a. providing much additional fuel
for domestic purposes. This move
will materially affect the movement
Of commodities needed by European
nations N feconstruction work, but
oflicials said the emergency de-
mands Of the United States must
be the first consideration.
Report Miners Returning.
In West Virginia, miners con-
tinued to return In small numbers
to the union shafts. according to
reports here. The non-union min
ers were being given every encour-
agement also to increase their out
put.
In some quarters the belief pre-
vailed that the strike on the edges
Of the solid union districts was
bbsing ground In this respect.
Z The opinion was expressed that
the walkout In such areas was
largely one Of sympathy and q
gradual detection Of those miners
from the union ranks was predicted.