Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-10
Believed Mine Officers
Will Ignore Judges
Mandate.

leaders preQlcteQ lO0dy tndt iutoE-
national officers of the United Mine
Workers of America, meeting at
Indianapolis, would not call on tho
coal strike as directed by Federal
Judge Anderson, whatever the
legal consequences might b.
One of the spokesmen for the
miners organization said he doubt
ed IL Acting President Lewis and
his associates had the power. even
II they had the inclination, to com
ply with the mandate.
Ordered By Convention.
"The strike was ordered by q
delegate convention in the event
the operators refused to grant our
demands" the spokesman said, "and
Lewis merely carried out instruc-
tions in ordering the strike. The
convention must call 1t or"
Frank Morrison, secretary Of the
American Federation Of Labor,
would not add anything to the
statement issued last night by the
executive cou1cil supporting ths
strike of the miners, and demand
ing that the government withdraw
the injunction proceedings.
"That was the statement OF the
executive council and it speaks for
ITSELF" Morrison said. II am not
here to interpret It."
Nothing to Add.
The Federation secretary had
! been asked for . statement in view
OF the opinion in some quarters that
the pronouncement of Organized
labor was q notice to the striking
miners to stand pat.
There is nothing to add" Morri-
son replied. THAT question has al
ready been asked a number of times
today. and II you want an answer
you will have to assemble the
council"
Held Autocratio.
The American Federation Ut
Labor stood today before the coun-
try as. an unqualified indorser Of
the strike Of soft coal miners and
as bitterly opposed to the action Of
the government in attempting to
end the strike through. Injunction
proceedings which action it char
acterized as so autocratic a. to
stagger the human mind"
Endorsement Of the strike was
announced last night in state
ment issued by the executive c0un-
Gil of the federation which pledged
to the strikers the full support Of
organized labor and appealed to
the citizenship Of the country TO
give q like endorsement to ''the
men engaged In this momentous
struggle"
Rights Invaded.
The course of the government in
securing = court order at Indian
apolis Saturday directing oflcials
OF the miners organization to cali
off the strike by tomorrow, WAS
declared an invasion OF the rights
! Of the miners and the statement de-
manded the withdrawal Of the IN.
junction. Use of the Lever act.
under which the court proceedings
were instituted IVES severely con-
demned as "an injustice to all lib
erty-loving Americans"
After declaring that 'by. all the
facts in the case the miners strike
Is justified, we indorse It and We
are convinced of the justice of the
miners cause" the statement con-
cluded with the appeal to all citi-
zens to support the strikers and
promised support Of organized
labor.
No Time for Cold Feet.
White house officials refused to-
day to comment on the federation's
statement.
"The situation is in the hands Of
the courts" Secretary Tumulty
said. adding:
"This is no time to get cold feet. /"
! Attorney General Palmer and 9TH
er administration ofiicials refused
to comment on the federation's
statement, but they indicated there
would be no chanAa in the govern
lment's position regarding the strike.
Is Net Exempt.
| Oficials and members Of congress
did not agree with the statement
OF the federation's executive COM
mittee that it was the intention Of
congress in enacing the food con-
troll law to exempt labor unions
from its provisions. At the de-
partment Of Justice it was pointed
out that an amendment to the act
under which unions would have
been exempted specifically was. re-
jected.