New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-11-11
Men Who Conceive Reso-
luton of Convention Is
Superior to Statute to
Discover Their Mistake
No Labor Dictation,
Unions Are Advised
Marshals Serve Writs on
Leaders at arley; No
Hint Given of Outcome

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1O.-Sol-
elnn warning was given the United
Mine Workers of America tonight
by Attorney General Palmer that
resolutions Of conventions and or
ders Of officers of organizations are
not above the law.
Formal and final declaration Of
the government policy on dealing
with the coal strike was announced
by the Attorney General, while Off
GERS of the miners organization at
Indianapolis We're struggling tn
the question how to answer the
courts blunt and peremptory com.
mand to rescind the strike order.
DDescribing the strike as a plain
violation of a Federal statute, Mr..
Palmer, speaking with full authority
of the government, announced that
al 1.-THE power of the United States
would be exerted to enforce the man.
date of the court.
Warns Law Is Supreme
The Attorney General declared
those who conceive that the roSoiu.
tions of convention of the orders
OF the officers Of any organization
In the country, whether labor organi.
zations or any other, are superior
in authority to the law of the land.
will find themselves mistaken"
Although no reference was made In
the Attorney Generals statement to
the pronouncement of organized labor
supporting the miners and demanding
withdrawal OF injunction proceedings,
as set forth last night by the ex-
ecutive council Of the American FEEDER
alton OF Labor, it was evident that
Mir. Palmer had that document in mind,
and official Washington accepted his
declaration TO mean that refusal of the
miners TO cancel their strike order
would mean fight 20 the bitter end.
The statement follows:
THE coal strike is plain violation
of Federal statute This has been
the governments position from the
start. The President declared it to be
unlawful, and the court. after full
hearing, has now declared it to be-
unlawful
Denies Right TO Strike Is Involved
All ! can say is that the law viii
be enforced. This same law has been
enforced many times, and the Depart
ment OF justice has other cases now
pending which were brought under it.
The merits of the controversy between
the operators and the miners are not
involved IN the court proceedings as
indianapolis. neither IS the tight to
strike Nothing that the government
has done is intended OF designed to
have any effect upon the recognized
rlgnt OF labor to organize to bargain
collectively through its unions, and.
under ordinary industrial conditions.
to walk out by concerted action.
The proposal by the President of q
peaceful settlement OF the matters at
issue between the operators and the
miners, through negotiations or arbi-
tration. was rejected, and the govern
ment, therefore, faced the alternative
OF submitting to the demands of u
single group, TO the irreparable injury
OF the whole people. or of challenging
oiie assei, ,ton py Ihat group or power
greater than that Of the governments
itself.
Group Dictation Charged
Confronted with such a choice. tho
governments duty was perfectly clear.
1t refused to surrender to the dictas-
slon OF group and it proposes to as
sert its power to protect itself and
the people, whom it is designed to
serve. Inc government is no respecter
OF persons in the enforcement of the
law. Those who conceive that the res
buttons of Il convention or tNe orders
OF the officers of any organization in
the country, whether labor organiza-
tons or any other, are superior in
find themselves mistaken.
II assume that the order of the
court will be obeyed. The Presidents
offer for peaceful settlement is still
open. and | hope that the miners and
operators will now get together and
settle their controversy"
There was no attempt in official OF
labor circles tonight to conceal the
feeling that the situation was extreme.
ly grave and getting beyond the ques.
tion Of coal strike. This was due
to the belief that the miners apparent
~ were not of one mind on the guess
tion of making quick reply to the
court.
Decision of Miners Awaited
All day word from the indianapolis
meeting was awaited with intense inc
| terest and axiety. Some labor leaders
had predicted the mandatory order
! would not be complied with, and thaa
the strike order would stand until
passed upon by the same delegate con-
vention which arbitrarily fixedEhe datu
for the nationwide walk-ouk unlssss