Evening star., 1919-11-09
Belief Here That
Mines Will Open
By Thursday.
MIR. GOMPERS AND
OTHERS SILENT
Organized Labor Sur
prised by Outcome
of Hearing.

Labor leaders in Washington re-
fused last night to comment on the
order of Federal Judge Anderson, is
sued yesterday in Indianapolis to Of
ficials of the miners union. direct
ing that they rescind the strike order.
but several of them believe the strik-
ing miners will be back at work not
later than next Thursday.
The outcome Of the hearing in
ly a surprise to the men who repre-
sent organized labor in the National
Capital, but they accepted the situa-
tion in the same spirit that marked
the attitude of the union officials in
Indianapolis.
President Samuel Gompers Of the
American Federation of Labor, and
others interested in the outcome of
the strike. discussed the court order
informally last night, but had nothing
to say to newspaper men who pressed
them for some expression of opinion
Many of them had believed that the
strike would be settled out of court,
but none would express disappoint-
ment at the turn affairs had taken.
No Desire to Fight Government.
The statement by officers of the
United Mine Workers in Indianapolis
that they had no desire to fight the
government was accepted generally
as the feeling and attitude of the
men.
Department of Justice officials said
last night they believed the officers
of the miners organization who call
ed the strike would formally issue the
cancellation notice at their meeting
at indianapolis tomorrow morning.
Announcement by counsel for tae
miners that Acting President Lewis
unquestionably would abide by the
courts order indicated to labor lead
ers here that the men would return
to work when Lewis directed.
Reports from the mining regions
showed little or no change in the gen.
eral situation, although operators
claimed considerable improvement in
some states. particularly Alabama and
West Virginia. All government agencies
charged with the duty of protecting the
public and seeing that coal reached
points in need of it went forward with
their plans without regard to court de-
velopments.
Miners Worked to Last.
The weekly summary issued yester-
day by the geological survey showed
that the miners had worked steadily
up to the hour of the strike, and that
the production for the five days inn
mediately preceding the walkout was
almost the capacity output, being the
greatest tonnage ever mined in this
country in similar period of time.
After the strike, however, production
dropped 80 low that an unreasonable
cold wave would have cut deeply into
the reserve supply and caused much
idleness and suffering.
AS a result Of the coal situation the
railroad administration last flight is
sued a revised order under which for
eisn-owned ships may receive permits
for bunkering in American ports if
their cargo does not include coal. Such
permits, however. will be only for suf-
ficient coal to carry the vessel to its
next bunkering station.
Officials said freight was accumulat-
ing rapidly at tidewater ports. threat
ening congestion at railroad termi-
nails, while at several golf ports
wheat receipts for export have been
heavy and the elevators are at ca
pacity. This must be moved, it was
said, in order that the vast stocks of
wheat still in the grain producing
areas may be transported to market
Complete discontinuance of bunker
ing of foreign ships might be re-
newed, it was said, when the threat
ened congestion was cleared up.