Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-04

With their leaders muzzled by an
injunction restraining them from
fostering the strike in any way, the
bituminous coal miners of the coun-
try went on strike Friday at mid
night, despite the efforts of the
United States government to pre-
vent their action. According to fig
ures given out Monday, approximate
ly 100000 men are out, and virtually
all union mines are closed, though
400 non-union mines are running full
blast.
The injunction was the first move
of the United States government TO
control the national situation arts.
ing out of the strike. 1t restraints the
leaders of the miners from issuing
any messages, oral or otherwise, and
prohibits the giving of orders or
encouragement or the distribution or
strike benefits. The court order was
secured on Friday, Judge C. B. Ames,
assistant attorney general of the
United States, presenting the petition
which was signed by Judge Ander-
son on the showing set forth by
Judge Ames that national dis
aster impended, and on the general
the right to enforce it's laws and
protect the people from calamity.
In presenting the petition JudEe
Ames made it clear that the case
will not involve the general right
of workmen to organize or to quit
work. He stated that it would hare
no bearing on other industries and
merely involves "the right or labor
inc IN Ctpio
the supply Of food and fuel"
Despite government efforts the
strike went into effect at midnight
Friday, with mine leaders express
ing their confidence in the certainty
of a complete tie-up.
The injunction shifts the govern
ment's fight to the heart Of the
coal field territory and actually
will mean the first offensive war
fare to prevent industrial chaos by
the closing of the soft coal mines.
Frequent meetings of the cabinet
will be held to keep in touch with
the situation.
Troops Modified
Approach of the zero hour found
the government secretly moving
troops to strategic points in the
affected areas.
The troop movements were as
carefully guarded as during the
war, and every precaution will be
taken to prevent the mining regions
from being plunged into a condition
approximateing civil strife.
An executive order fixing maxi
mum prices for bituminous coal was
signed Friday by President Wilson.
Prices of anthracite are not affected.
Both the house and senate have
passed a resolution pledging their
support to "the national administra-
ton and all others in authority" in
their efforts to meet "the present
emergency"
Developments in the strike of E
bituminous coal miners Saturday
were:
Two companies of infantry and
machine gun company from Camp
Gordon entrained for Knoxville Sat
urday morning under command Of
Major NJ. A. French. They will join
the Fifth division detachment al
ready there on strike duty.
Later Developments
Committees to take charge of coal
distribution in the eight regional rail
road districts were appointed by Rail
Director Hines. The committees will
have headquarters at Philadelphia
Atlanta, Pittsburg, Cleveland, Chi
cago, Boston, New York, Cleveland
Chicago, Boston, New York and ST
Louis. Fuel Administrator Garfield
will have a representative on each
committee. Personnel of the com
mittees was not announced but it
was said they would be made up
of operating officials and Garfields
representatives.
All coal miners in the Chattanooga
district joined the countrywide
strike union leaders claim. Approx
imateIy 5000 men are affected, it
is estimated.
Operators in west Kentucky fields
composed of Hopkins, Webster and
Christian counties, stated that all
mines were running as usual and
they expected no deviation from con-
tract agreement with the miners,
which provides they shall remain al
work under terms of pay and hours
of labor agreed on last year.
Governor Kilby issued an order
mobilizing 900 Alabama national
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