Norwich bulletin., 1919-10-27

Washington, Oct 2s-The whole
 the miners answer to President Will
 eoa's blunt command that the soft coal
 strike ordered for Saturday be called
 oc<
 There was not a word, however, to
 slow where the United Mine Workers
 of America stood. or what the govern
 rrent rouId do in the event the pres
 fde1e's solemn warning that the mines
 mus. be kept in full and continuouse
 operation was ignored
 Considering the temper of labor. of
 fic5ai Washington took the view that
 while there was hope of compliance by
 rEe hall million miners. who had been
 ordered out. there was no absolute as
 ss-rzace that the presidents letter part appeal and part conamand-would
 b-sHz peace 10 the coal fields. But there seemed 10 be no doubt of the EoTerameat's determination to see that the- people obtained an adequate cal supply 10 keep them from suffering ana permit he nations vast industries ro continue operation
 While declining naturally to com mSnt or the future course of action should the strike take place, members o< -ae presidents cabinet, intin1ated that the government would not sit with folded h-1nds ia the face of threaten e5ktrduSSrial disaster
 L. Tl.te6 Mine Workers of America. the one man whose word would have the H-asc weight with the ha1 million r-sdT 10 walk out was out of touch with labor leaders here, while speed ing EoT1ewarc take ppe-sonal charge o-sthe strike Lewis left Washington last night for Springfield, Ills. pro calming to the last that the situation -zs unchanged ana that the union was s-iil- ready and willing 10 negotiate --z - Fa
 Sc far as it concerned the con- f-eve-sT between miners and operators fEe. outstanding decla ration by Presi- dcns Wilson was that the wartime agreement which the miners contend no longer exists still is in full force and effective and will stand during the Continuance of the war. but not beyond A7rl l. Isse- Looking at it in ''l,-sscticzl way" Lewis and the full Scale c0snInittee have sfea adfzstIy main tsiled that tie war ended with the s-zlszice. and that he miners for full year have worked at the old wage as their voluntary contribution to the job Of helping the country get back to n5rraL
 There was a suggestion tonight that ti-s cabinet might decide to send Sec rstsrz of Labor Wilson to Indiana polls 1c confer with the executive board Of inc United Mine Workers of America v Eicii will meet there Wednesday Labor leaders here said that in view of t-e efforts made by the secretary to s=tt-e the strike and in the light Of the p-eSident's emphatic announcement that tho mines had to remain open a personal word spoken to members Of tfs board might pave the way for reace-
 The strike call was issued and signed by executive officers of the United Mine Workers iu conformity with the suthority vested by the international convention at Cleveland on September @s- and while President Lewis declined while here to discuss this phase of the question- it is held that men who have t1e power 70 order tine strike likewise have the power to cali 1t off
 Some labor officials said the execu- i've board could act for the whole organization and that Lewis and the executive officers could hold up or withdraw the strike order if they saw fit 10 do so-
 James Lord. president of the mine workers division of the American Fed e-zttou Of Labor declined to comment on the strike situation.
 IL was said tonight there would be TO announcement of the governments policy respecting operation of the mines until 1t was definitely known whether the unions would insist on the strike But there seemed to be no doubt Of the fact that ample protec- tio1 would be afforded miners who stuck to the job Ina smuch as there WzS no strike vote by the men the be- lief prevails in some quarters that not all of the thousands affected by the crders to walk out will obey
 Ff1e next movement toward settle nert of the strike. it was said, must come from the miners, the operators having accepted fin it's entirety Pres ioent Wilson's proposal, made to the joint conference Friday, that the two sides start with a new slate negotiate their differences, resorting to arbitra- ton cnfy when negotiations failed, and keep the mines in operation. Secretary Wilson has explained that the miners greed to negotiate. but held over the future consideration the question of and withdrawal of the s st-5ke order
 Cmcials believe 1t is possible to re- open the case in view of Lewis state -1-nt that the miners were willing to negotiate new wage agreement the | big bone Of contention An offer to l ms erect may be presented to the ex- ccuHTe board at Indianapolis Wednes- 1 o2s. 1T that body does not act first of 1 Us own accord