New-York tribune., 1919-10-30
" Orkers Are Warned Full
Power of Government
Will Be Used to Pro-
tect Public Interest
Right to Strike Is
Held Not an Issue
Fuel Board Reorganized
TO Govern Situation:
Mediation Plans Ready:
Garfield Is Recalled

WASHINGTON. Oct 29.-Thc gov
ernment moved swiftly tonight to meet
the nationwide coal strike ordered for
Saturday.
Refusal OF the miners organization
at Indianapolis to Withdraw the order
calling out 100 600 men brought instant
announcement that drastic action would
be taken to keep the mines in opera
ton.
Every resource of the government. iis
the words of Attorney General Palmer.
will be used to prevent the national
disaster certain to follow the stoppago
of work
The possibility of the government
taking over the bituminous mines con,
pietely and operating them until
normal conditions are restored. was
discussed to-day, and will be fully con-
sldered tomorrow. when the Cabinet.
It Is expected, will meet.
Workers To BE Protected
Adequate police protection, Will.
troops IS last resort, if necessary.
will be esiven those men desiring to re-
main at work. Reports from govern.
ment agents show that great numbers
OF the miners ordered to quit work
want TO stay on the job.
~N't-'iNo VI lHt PGDiic HlA De pro
tected through revival of price control
regulations suspended when the fuel
administration went out of existence
February l. This means an early drop
IN the price of soft coal and gives as-
surance against profiteering.
As to those miners who go on strike
and thereby curtail production. the
food and fuel control law, with its re
Gently added criminal penalties of fine
.l11
without regard to persons. This atti-
tude of the government, Attorney Cen
eral Palmer made clear, does not affect
the right of workers to strike for re-
dress of grievances in other cases
where no violation of the low is in
volved.
Mr.. Palmer's announcement of the
governments plans, made after con-
sultation with Secretary Wilson, Di.
rector General Hines, Assistant Al.
torney General Ames. in charge o.
prosecutions under the food and fuer
control law; Assistant Attorney Gen
eral Garvln, directing criminal prosecu-
tons and Investigations of the De-
partmcnt of Justice; Secretary Tn
multy, representing the President. and
DR.. H. A. Garfield former Fuel Ad
mlnlstrator. did not mince words in
dealing with the strike.
a statement showing that the produc-
tion of coal this year has been belou,
normal.
Maximum Prices Advised
one decision of &he government con.
ference on coal late TO-DAY was to
recommend to the President reestab-
hshment Of maximum prices on coai
"nlch prevailed when the Fuel Adj
mlnistraton went out of existence
Ihese prices are considerably lower
than the prices now prevailing. II ia
considered certain that the President
VIII comply with the recommendation.
"hlch means that a substantial reduc-
uon IN soft coal prices, including those
SINCE February /. will become effective
almost Immediately.
Dr II. A. Garfield. former Fuel Ad-
minlstrator, made the announcement;
as 20 resumption of price control. He
oeciared MS recommendations. which
VIII go TO the President to-morro,y
YOU'D oea, only with s,e question of
pI.fes and would not be concerned
with the ALLEGATION of fuel or the zon-
ing system of deliveries.
Inc government will act in the strike
9nder me provisions OF the Lever
1000 control act enacted as war
measure but still in force.
split in Miners Ranks Reported
Government officials asserted m.
hleht> tnat reports from confidential
sources showed that not all of the
miners would strike, that public senti-
ment was overwhelmingly against the
waikout at The beginning of winter.
and thai duration cf the strike would
be brief ''"'"
Refusal oi the miners organization
70 withdraw the strike order was a
distinct surprise to officials. VIII
changed quickly from a hopeful to p
lighting attitude. There was no dis
position TO dispute the right OF men
to strike, but officials were grimly de-
termined to see that men who do NOT,
strike viii be protected in and out Of
the mines. even if that means the pres
ence of troops.
Before first word of rejection NJ
the Presidents appeal reached here
from Indianapolis, Federal machinery
was being made ready to deal with
conditions likely to arise in the Goa,
heids. Fuel Administrator Garfield
was summoned from Massachusetts for
conference at the White House. ano
until the very last he was strongly OF
the opinion that strike would not take
place.
When he returned to the 11hitc
VaA.