Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-01
TAKES Up CUDGELS
FOR STRIKE RIGHTS
Gompers Declares Injunction Will
Create New and More Dis
turbing Issues.
ATTORNEY GENERALS VIEWS
Says Step Is Taken by Govern
ment on Behalf of All Against
Calamity.
ATTORNEY GENERALS VIEWS
LRv Associa,sdprna.1

| fBy Associated Prcss1
| WASHINGTON. Oct. 31.-Thc big
news in the coal strike situation to-
day was the Federal courts order for
bldding the walkodt. 1t was followed
| py long line ot developments, and
| opened the door 10 wide possibilities
The principal leaders in tho miners
union met the courts denunciation as
a violation of constitutional rights"
ana with declarations that it came too
late TO reach their men with a coun-
termanding order, and with predictions
| mat 1t would o. disregarded anyway
During the night reports were COM
| ing In from the mining States of men
VINO VINO decided to .cinain mt work and
otncrs VINO went IN strike, despite the
courts restraining order 1t is not
possible TO estimate what proportion
OF the 1000 miners affected remain ed
at work and what proportion walked
out. The real .est may not come until
Monday. Saturday generally is dead
! day in the mines.
| VIII Take Up CudEeIs
Meanwhile organized labor leaders
/, a general issue over the right to strike.
President GomEers, of the American
Federation Of Labor. with vice-Presi-
! dent VOL and Secretary Morrison, pro-
| tested as n delegation to Attorney
General Palmer against the govern
ments action in suing out the injunc-
| ton. and predicted that 1t could only
result in creating new and more dis
| turbing issues, which may not be con-
fined solely to the miners"
| The statement. issued jointly by Mr..
| Gompers. Vice President Woll and Sec
retary Morrison. qf tho federation.
eors1 pa,@s nsstss,s ass;s, ths @
the Federal courtIat indianapolis. fol.
lows:
Throughout the period of the war
the miners OF America labored pa
tiently, patriotically an darduously in
order that the principles of freedom
the forces Of arbitrary authority, dicta-
torship and despotism.
when armed hostilitieS ceased last
November, the miners found themselves
in the paradoxical position where their
Intensive lnbors were being used to
mines and merchants dealing in coal
| by the immediate reduction Of the min
ing of the coal. OF course. the mine
abundance of mined coal would Sc
riously disturb the high prices of coal
and endanger their large margin of
profits.
Reach Limit OF Endurance.
"On the other hand the miners found
that, with the constantly rising cost
OF sIodasee necessities Of life and with their
cause of idleness, that they had reached
the limit of human endurance Orderly
and improved processes were invoked
| 10 negotiate new understanding with
the mine owners. and which would en-
able the miners to work at least five
days during each week throughout the
entire year and allow them a wage
suIncient to enable them to live in
pressing uncertainties of life.
9nde rstanding and relation the miners
found that their plea for continuous
employment would destroy the mine
mining of coal so as to continue ex
plotting the public with high and exor-
bitant prices.
the The issna mine e. owners very cleSerly met
anxious to negotiate, but only IL the
miners would first throw aside the
ohiy power at their command to gain
eration-the decision to strike when
| ever 1t was demonstrated fair dealings
We are now faced with a coal strike
Oh OF vast magnitude. The government
a possible coal shortage. Spnarsntfy Snqse Dl
me government is not concerned with
Which @ hnhhnipnladio1 hnnp MATS }o by the mineowners
age and undue employment OF The
hffS nsSead iST of dfe deaSIns eaff sewfn mqn,hs
puh pu6ilie hiis welfare welfare, it now proposes 'to to
stances have been The ofe Victims on cireum If m
Goa coal bar, barons' explorations. The miners r
ana. II reports received here are cor,
reGe, esist;n the government intends to apply
the thstug oWneSs war nf measures tSa not against
against Sar the coal miners
Ihe government has taken stems to
snioFEe snn e, war measures by an injunction
ana ahe tnted has MiSs Tfstrajped the oeas Of
os SE Ss %e%SsSs o9 th1s %ex hsl'sa
OF life and employment.
..,. An inconceivnbie Situation.
1T is almost inconceivable that a
ticipation in a great war to iiberate
suppressed peoples should now Under
take, lake to suppress the legitimate aims.
that a nation which may Justly 6e
proud Of its Abraham Lincoln. should
great truth no enunciated when he SAID SAID
that as between capital and labor.
labor should receive first and fore.
The injunction against the United
Nine Workers BODIES for III. An injunc-
ton Of this nature will not prevent
stomachs of the miners3it nav e restrpiy emp{y ~
sane leadership. but will give added
strength to unwise counsel and in
May Not Be Confined to Miners.
This Injunction can only result in
ereatimE e,,e new and more disturbing Is
presented to Attorney General Palmer
IN a -, conference this afternoon lasting
ers, Secretary Morrison and Vice
pressident Pre- SIDE VOL, OF the American Fed
Heads Of the great railway brother
nOOdS C0nferrnd VUi hn