Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-10-27

---sssass.gnssrneesssse,
Iished. This Is 4 matter Of life and
death to the women and children
Of the miners families - we'll a. il
is to the public. Charity begins at
home.
Our aim is to make a shorter
working period and to distribute the
work over more days during the
year The miners in England have
7-hour day, from bank to bank,
which means from the time they
leave the surface OF the ground until
they get back. Miners in the United
States have an 8-hour day. but that
doesn't count until they get to the
face of the coal. They are in real
lts ~, working nine apd a half hours
Await Miners Answer.
Washington, Oct. 26.-The whole
country waited expeetantly today
for the miners answer to President
Wilson's blunt command that the
soft coal strike ordered for Satur-
day be called off
| There was not q word, however,
to show where the United Mine
Workers of America stood, or what
the government would DO in the
event the presidents solemn warm
| ing that the mines must be kept
in full and continuous operation was
ignored.
Considering the temper of labor,
| officials at Washington took the
view that while there was hope of
compliance by the half million min
ers who had been ordered out, there
was no absolute assurance that the
presidents latest-part appeal and
part command-would bring peace
to, the coal fields. But there seemed
to be no doubt of the governments
| determination to see that the people
obtained an adequate coal supply
to keep them from suffering and per-
NIT the nations vast industries to
continue operation.
While declining naturally TO com-
ment on the future course of action
should the strike take place, MEN,
bers of the presidents cabinet int,
mated that the government would
not sit with folded hands in the face
of threatened industrial disaster.
Lewis on Way Home,
John l., Lewis. president of the
United Mine Workers of America,
the one man whose word would have
most weight with the half million
ready to walk out, was out 81 touch
with labor leaders here, while
speeding homeward to take personal
charge of the strike, Lewis left
| Washington last night for Spring
field, Ill.,. proclaiming to the lasi
that the situation was unchanged
and that the union was still ready
ard willing to negotiate NV wage
agreement.
| So far as it concerned the contre'
versy between the miners aud opeI'
aters the outstanding declaration by
President Wilson was that the war
time agreement, which the miners
contend no longer exists, still is ir
full force and effect. and will stand
during the continuance of the war
but not beyond April !, 1920.
Yet Hopeful Of Peace. -
Locking at it in "a practical way
Lewis and the full scale COMMITTEES
have steadfastly maintained that the
war ended with the arrnistice and
that the miners for a full year have
worked at the old wage as their vol
uutary contribution to the job al
helping the country get back te
| normal.
There was suggestion tonight
that the cabinet might decide tc
send Secretary OF Labor Wilson tc
Indianapolis to confer with the ex
ecutive board of, the United Mine
Workers Of America, which will
meet there Wednesday, Labor lead
ers here said that in view Of the ct,
forts made by the secretary to settle
the strike and in the light OF tbs
presidents emphatic announcement
that the mines had to remain open
a personal word spoken to members
of the hoard might Fave the way fol-
peace.
Regular Strike Call.
The strike call was issued and
signed by executive officers of the
United Mine Workers in conform
ity with the authority vested by the
international convention" at Cleve-
land, on September q, and while
President Lewis declined while here
to discuss this phase of the ques-
ton it is held that the men whe had
the newer to order the strife like
wise have the power to call it off.
Some labor officials said the exeeu-