Arizona republican., 1919-10-29
Situation Not Hopeless


 While steps already taken and which might be regarded as drastic were approved, Secretary Lansing, who presided, brought word from the meet ing that the situation was ~ot hope less All day the belief had gT;cTn that the international executive board, at it's meeting tomorrow at Indianapolis, would postpone the strike, at least. Hope was expressed in some quarters, that the strike would be called off by the men who had called it, but officials declined to say whether this was based upon information purporting to convey some idea as to the attitude of the union.
 Mir. Lansing would not say if any tacts had been laid before the meeting 10 justify hope of averting the strike.
 Secretary of Labor Wilson, familiar with the way of miners through long service as an officer of their national organization. said it might be several days before a decision was reached by the executive board at Indianapolis.
 We still have the functions of a mediator to perform" he said, in an- nouncing that no new strike develop 'nents had been brought to his atten- tion.
 Most officials had thought that John l.. Lewis, acting president of the Unit ed Mine Workers, who had summoned his full scale committee to the meet ing tomorrow would make immediate announcement of the reply of his men to President Wilson's letter. Accord ing to the view held by Mir. Wilson however, there may be no answer until the very last moment. An eleventh hour decision to postpone or cancel the strike would not be surprising it was said. but there was some doubt here as to whether word could be sent 70 the men in time to keep them at work.
 Move Coal Quickly
 The railroad administration. it was learned Noday is putting forth every effort to move the coal already mined to districts where present stocks are running dangerously low. Meantime government agents were taking quick census and trying to find out how long the stocks on hand might last. In the absence of an authoritative statement strike reports were conflicting, but it was said that union estimates of enough to supply demands for 30 days were not far wrong.
 The government is ready for the worst. but is hoping the worst will not happen, firm in the belief that the miners will respond periodically to the presidents appeal and keep the mines running while negotiating a new wage agreement" was the summing up to- night of a government official in touch with the situation.
 Everything depends on what is done at Indianapolis"
 Delegates Ready for Confsb
 INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. Oct. 2S.- With mo change in the situation" re- ported at United Mine Workers of America headquarters, leaders of the big organization of coal miners were preparing grimly tonight for a mo- : mcntous conference tomorrow of its executive board. district presidents and scale committee. John l.. Lewis, act ing president. arrived late today from his home in Springfield Ills, but had little to add to sentiments he has all ready expressed concerning the gen. eral strike planned to take effect in the bituminous mines November l.
 The condemnation of the proposed walkout by President Wilson and his suggestion that a tribunal be appointed 10 find a basis of settlement of the disagreement between workers and employers with coal production contin- uing meanwhile. held no charms flor the union leaders. Echoing the point made by William Green, secretary treasurer of the organization, MT. Lewis said that the national execu- tive's idea that the need for war time prohibition had passed because emer- gency had ended, expressed exactly the unions attitude toward it's war time wage contract.
 There is no further use for war
 time prohibition, according to the
 president" said Mr. Lewis. "Nei-
 ther is there further use for the
 war time Washington wage agree
 ment. We therefore resent the
 imputation that the strike is it.
 legal"
 The suggestion that work be contin- ued pending appointment and report of on Investigating tribunal was denomi- mated by MT Lewis a measure of delay.
 That would mean months of waiting while men ignorant of mining problems studied and tried to solve them" he said. Meanwhile the miners would be working under the present intolerable conditions
 Other officials of the union agreed heartily with this view. In addition some of them pointed out that the operators would take advantage of the delay to work the miens to capacity piling up reserve stocks and placing the union at a big disadvantake should the tribunals efforts come to naught
 Want Direct Negotiations
 Direct negotiations with the mine