New-York tribune., 1919-11-09

the government to-day would not op-
pose motion by counsel for the
miners in the Indianapolis proceedings
to postpone final hearing in the in
junction suit for one week, pending
the getting together in further ncgo-
tintion of the operators and miners.
He made only one condition, that tho
miners. if the new egotiations proved
nbortive in one week, call off the ex-
ist - strike order.
This proposition Mr.. Palmer per
suadad the operators to accept They,
believing the strikers already half
beaten. were not anxious again to get
into negotiations I this time with pub
lie opinion insistcnt only upon any set
tlcment. But despite the efforts of Mr..
Gompers, Acting PRESIDENT John l..
Lewis, Of the United Mine Workers, re-
fused to agree to the one condition, and
there was nothing left, in the opinion
of Mr.. Palmer, but for the government
to 60 ahead as it had first planned, press
for injunction which would tie the
leaders hands, keep in tho banks their
strike benefit funds and bring an order
from the court that they recall the
strike order.
Mr.. Palmer so instructed Judge G. B.
Ames, the Assistant Attorney General,
who argued the case in Indianapolis.
Although no offer of a compromise would
Mt any time be refused by the govern
ment if the strike were to be called of,
the feeling tonight was that the gov
ernmcns has only one course in sight
that is, a fight to the end.
Strike Reported Cracking
All through the week reports coming
to the ID partmcnt of Justice and to the
operators, showed hundreds of union
M haC na fui n
Gus fields outside of Okio, Indiana and
Illinois, the grievances of whose miners
arc the on'y ones directly involved in
the present difficulty. Predictions as to
how soon the strike in these out ying
fields might be broken varied, some Of
them running as near tonight az No
vember l6, others giving two weeks
more before output in them will be
close to normal
The three states in the central field
produce about one third of the btu
minous coal Of the country, and unless
operators familiar with the situation
there are wrong in their estimates the
miners Who are out can stand the strain
of the strike for two months. With
the total production cut by one third,
just how the country will get along is
problcmatical, but with a partial cur
tailmcnt of industry and other ccono-
mics officials feel il should be able to
get along, until tie whole strike is
proved a failure.
Public Support Counted On
There was an optimistic feeling in
government circles tonight that the
PEOPLE of the country would rise to
the situation and help in every possible
wa to cut down coal consumption and
help make the strike unsuccessful.
There is not now in contemplation any
Of the heatless Mondays made famous
Ny DR.. Harry CARTE d, the Federal
Fuel Administrator, in the war days,
althrcsh DR.. Garfield is back on the
ioo again and may resort to them If
Developments do not show that any
other wa. of saving coal will be eff
fectjve.
officials were plainly puzzled b. the
dispatches from indianapolis. indicat
ing that Mr.. Lewis and Secretary
Crccn. of the Mine Workers, intend to
calling off the strike order they do
rot see exactly what these officials
have up their sleeves, unless they Feel
II may be better for them TO take their
medicine rather than defy the court.
put them selves In contempt and go to
jail. If they obey and keep their free
dom the would be able to direct any
negotiations which might be begun as
the strike PROGRESSES and not leave
these negotiations in the hands Of
others less able to carry them to a
successful conclusion.
Basis of Campaign Laid
For the present the government is
said to feel that it has made most Of
the moves that are possible to meet
the strike situation. 1t has cut down
bunker coal for foreign ships, has given
regional railroad directors power to
curtall train movements has cstab-
llshed its priority lists and made many
n owes for economy in fuel consump-
ton. The next few days viii give it
more accurate picture Of what it may
expect in the way Of increased OUTPUT
and its future y ans depend upon the
fac's that are dcvelcned
1t became known tonight that tho
situation had developed to the point
where. to avoid accumulation of other
frcirht at tidewater points, and to
avoid accumulation Of loaded coal rs.
the railroad administration had decided
to permit bunkering of vessels under
foreign flags on permits to be issued by
the coal committees at tidcWater pors.
Permits will not be granted for bunker
ing of vessels to carry cargo coal to
foreign countries, in view Of the fact
that cargo coal is at the bottom of the
priority list established by the fuel ad-
ministrator, and permits viii only be
issued for supplying sufficient bunkors
OF coal to take ships to the next bunker
ing station