Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-11-01


usrnaAnss u Dssnins- s
Is 81; ::
EVENTS OF "A WEEK
Tss impending strike q the soft coal miners has held
the center Of the stage durths The week, and the progress
OF the arrangements for it has been closely followed. as
well As the preparations made by the federal authorities
10 esmbat II. Up to- Friday svenins the principal dsvel-
opzaeats hsd been tho definite failure OF all efforts to
bring about an amicable settlement of the din,culty; the
issuance by the president Of q statement by the president
urging the miners to refrain from striking. declaring their
contemplated action both unjustiftable and unlawful. and
announcing the determination Of the administration to
nrcteece the nation from the disasters which q strike At
this time would entail: a statement from the attorney
general CELEBRATING that Of the president and pointing
cut that all tho war legislation with reference to fuel
was SIN IN force. and that the fun power Of the govern
meat would be involved to maintain it: the adoption by
conEress Of a joint resolution ~pledginE support to the adj
mintstratton in its efforts to prevent interruption Of the
fuel supply: revival Of the activities Of the fuel admin
istration: the issuance of . federal court Injunction re-
straining the o1RciaAs Of the United Mine Workers from
further activities in promotion Of the strike; and the end
Ing Of the days work in the practical certainty that in
. very large number Of mines work wilt not be resumed
on the following day.
In the statements which have emanated from fed
erl ofhcials emphasis has been placed on the fact that
the war is still on. and that all legislation enacted con-
ferring war powers on the president II sttll operative In
the statement made, attention has invariably been called
to the disaster which would inevitably follow such a
strike as has been proposed, but, while the text is OBJ
sctre In places, reliance seems to be placed By the gov
eminent, not on tho right Of the nation to protect itself
from disaster under any and all circumstances. but on
Its right to do so under the war legislation which is in
force. Tho governments attorney, In his statement In
applying for the injunction, said that there was no intent
to question the general right Of men to strike That
subject, therefore, does not appear to enter into the pres
ent litigation .
The injunction. according to the early dispatches re-
latins to it, does not prohibit the mine employees from
striking. It prohibits the officials OF their order from any
further steps In promotion Of the strike. II the miners
In small groups or as a body, without further suEgcs-
ton from their officials, should continue the strike, their
act would apparently not be covered by the present In
junction. But obviously, whatever power tho govern
nent has to prohibit officials from promoting a strike
can also be exerted against others to prevent them from
continuing a strike which can be maintained only In pur-
suance OF q common understanding. which would be tn
serprsted % q conspiracy. f. ~
An Interesting sngle'of the strike situation has been
presented in North Dakota. where there has been = pos
sibillity that theyy western Ignite miners, though not di-
'r.uax inyc1sd II the controversy which precipit.ted this
strike. might be drawn into it IN : sympathetc manner,
The governor of the stAte wired the acting president Of
the Mine Workers. proposing the operation Of the North
Dakota mines by the state as a temporary measure on
sondition that the product be sold only to individuals.
Tho spectacle Of the governor Of a state asking the per-
mission Of an eastern asitator for permission to- the
people to use the resources Of their own state il unusual,
and disgusting. =.
. . ..-'1 '-@'~ si~
The senate slate has been cleared during the week
of ali proposed amendments to the peace treaty, and
the subject is not before the house for fresh action. All
Of the As amendments proposed by the foreign relations
committee have been defeated. and it Is now regarded
Us certain that no amendment, as such, will be adopted.
The struggle will now be resumed on the matter Of reser-
vatons The more important features which were COW
FRED In the amendment proposals will now be covered in
prspoeed reservations. some of them being material mod
t1catsons Of the original proposals, and others retaining
the full spirit and effect Of their predecessor. hut differ
ing In form. f
5e
while we have been marking ttne on tho treaty
the japanese council voted for the acceptance Of the
Treaty. and the agreement has been formally ratified
~ the emperor. The United States il nov the only one
sf the five great powers which has mot ratified tho treaty
rsrnain ome-fsrmalities in the case Of Italy. and possibly
AZ Japan
.s 'f@-.i1 .l-f-i-.t
The steet strike closes smother week without pros-
psst Of sett1sment. but with the opening Of new mills In
sarszl districts and quite important additions to the
number Of men at work IN the mills which have been
ruandns. the steel strike is generally accepted a. = tall
ure. and fs eprsnsoters, Indicate as 1nuch In tnesr later
ssssmentz y
49, 2Br-G%@4# &-t-"- M ~ !. S-s.L-I
4 aenerzs Pers1nE. who = ssnsrany sa1posed to know
unkImx shout armies. has just told a joint congress
Asa1aa oann1ttee thae he <hAnks ! standtns army Of
ssAssse men WIN be ample for the needs Of their country,
ttass1y running counter to Ehe reconfnenda4ions Of tho
$50 Aspsxtnent for an army o. $1,000. General Persh-