Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-11-08
EVENTS QF A. WEEK

EVENTS OF A WEEK
Tho week has passed without material change in the
great coal strike. Tho valkout Of some 1850 700 miners
has had its expected and intended effect in creating q fuel
suangeney. though this hs not yet had time to take full
snect Deliveries OF stocks on hand and in transit have
continued. and production has continued 1t the rate Of
sbout al6oa.oooS toms Per day. this being the approximate
output Of the mtnes which remain unaffected by the
aF1na. or which arc WORKING up to q part Of their ca
paetty. The daily consumption Of the country Is esti-
mated at something Ike 100000 tons. With daily
consumption demand three times the production. it is evil
dent mat existing StocAs must quickly disappear. and the
whole country must 90 ON short 1at1ons.
90 . .
ekepo hsxs besn taken to meet the situation in part
through orders Tor the distribution Of coal in such a
manner ~ to meet the greatest need. Priority orders re-
fattng to shipments have been issued. For the time be-
ing foreign shipping IN American ports 10 excluded from
the dhrfbuton, and Hand demand Is given preference
even over American chipping. Thus it is hoped to defer
the moro acute results Of the shortage for a time. Nom
union mines arc in most cases unaffected by tho strike,
and some Of the union men have either not observed the
strike order, or have returned to work. In regard to the
total number OF men out however. the strike appears
to have been an unusually effective one. Out Of approx
matsy half . million men who might possibly be Affect
Sd BIZ the order It appears that 100000 are idle at the
close Of the first week Of the strike.
. . .
Before these lines arc published the legal repre-
sentattves Of the government and the strikers will have
appeared in Federal Judge Anderson's court at Indian
apolis in support Of their respective demands, the for
mer for a continuance Of tho restraining order against
the strike officers. and the latter for a vacation Of the or
der ana the auashing Of All proceedings. Efforts have
been made by labor leaders to induce the government
to consent to tho vacation Of the Injunction and the
abandonment Of all legal proceedings. They swert that
with this done the strike could be settled aud tho men
brought back TO work within - hours This proposal
vas fatty rejected by tho government, the position Of
tho department Of Justice being that the strike Is I'M
lawful, and that the government VIII not be a party to
the compromise of an illegal act.
The only feature which has developed which might
be Interpreted a. indicating a mobilization Of tho atti-
!ude Of either party II tho declaration by Acting Prest-
dent Lewis, Of the miners' organization, that WITH tho
legal proceedings out Of the way tho miners would DO
willing to negotiate On tho subject OF wasss without
prejudice" This is a slender thread On whici, to hang
an estimate. but such a. II Il, e n IN some quarters
thought to indicate q willingness on the part Of the min
ers to moderate sons Of their extreme demands. The
demand made was for tho six-heur day, tho ftve-day
weeh, and an increase Of 60 per esnt in pay. Tho inter-
probation. Of the Lewis statement IL that something lei.
would willingly be accepted.
Er
If, as a result Of the hearing OF Saturday the intunc-
ton should be vacated. the strike would be loft without
legal control of any kind, and the situation would revert
to that which existed before the government went into
court, with the exception that certain measures relating
to sale and distribution are now in effect. should tho
governments side of the case be sustained. further pro-
ceedfnss alons tho same limo may be expected. One
step which is regarded as probable is the application for
a mandatory order requiring the strike officials to take
positive steps to end the strike. Action prohibiting indl-
viduals from continuing in q conspiracy TO curtan tho
supply Of fuel is also anticipated.
..e
By reason of its Ignite production North Dakot. enc
tiers directly into tho strike situation. The production
of Ignite under the most favorable circumstances Ia sum-
cient to supply but a small percentage OF the states con-
sumption. but considerable quantities Of this fuel are
shipped into the eastern portion of the state. and through
u Inc great western section Ignite il practically this
only fuel used. without being directly involved in tn.
eastern strike. North Dakota miners. acting under the
direction Of District President brennan. have Joined in
the demand for short time and q so per cent increase in
pay. The mine operators have refused to xnant thee.
demands and = North Dakota strike w.s expected to TAX.
effect at midnight Friday night.
&
Responsibility for the North Dakota complication
rs being freely charged to the pusillanlmous action Of
Governor Frazier in wiring to Precedent Lewis .uaaan-
tahy asking for permission to keep the North Dakota
mines in operation. With the prospect that after tho
proposed ssi1ufe Of the mines by the state thsre would
be at least q Temporary concession Of ali that the miner,
have demanded. the way was paved ana rreaaed Tor .
strike s.
The proeaedinss in the ssna4e relaafnx - N. -,@.,t-
cation o. the peace treaty have been tnexprsutbav dun.
" q mo COMMITTEES amendments havs bsen DISPOSED
oi. 80 la otnsfs hays been proposed and voted down. 1oae
speeches hays besn made which changed neither opinion.
nor votes and yet other speeches ana Other amendmsnu
are II at1sht On Vftday Senator Hlteheock visited tAe
President vhoS e mp II bed to resivs him. NJ. Hitch-
esakg LEFT the white House and aanounesd Ii. r~,,. ~
MS yidk- which was substantia1iy Z rsiteranou 81 ~.