Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-11-05
GOVERNMENT REFUSES TO.
WITHDRAW INJuNCTIONS.
WHILE Law IS VIOLATED
Extended Controversy Is
Expected. as Result Of
Stand by U. s.

Washington, Nov. S-The
" government cannot accept the
proposal Of organized labor to
end the coal strike by vacating
the Injunction against the on.
clals Of the United Mine Work.
ers Of America. Assistant At.
torney General Ames, in the
absence Of Attorney General
Palmer, announced today that
the government could not
abandon its position because
the strike was In violation Of
law.
Judge Ames issued the following
statement:
THE strike 10 . violation Of Law.
As long as It continues, We are go
ing to proceed fl the courts. The
dispute between the mine owners
and workers is an entirely different
question that they can settle in
their own way. The government
cannot tolerate continued violation
Of. the Law such - this strike con-
stitutes.
Means Long Fight
Refusal Of the government to Va
cate the Injunction means . long
night IN the coal fields. while III
withdrawal would have opened the
way for settlement Of. the strike
within - hours. according, to nd
8Sr Wallace, legislative represen-
tative Of the United Mine Workers
Of America.
Labor Leaders Disturbed.
Labor leaders here who had TAX
On q hopeful view Of the strike SIT
uation after hearing Of Samuel
Gompers' suggestion for . settle
ment, were plainly disturbed by
news that the department Of Jus
1Dce would let the injunction stand.
'All agreed that L would keep the
strike going for some time. This
also was the view Of operators.
Representatives Of the mine
workers. counting hopefully on the
early end Of court proceedings,
were figuring on actual steps to
adjust differences at scale COM
mittee meetings.
VIM Marx Time Now.
In view Of the intention Of the
attorney general not to ask for
vacation Of the injunction, labor
leaders said there was no 1ikeli-
hood of any important move before
the injunction case came up for
hearing at Indianapolis Saturday.
Confidential reports today to the
department Of Justice said that SO
per cent more men worked in the
coal mines in Colorado than the
!. day before. A number of mines
were said to be running full force.
In for Long Struggle.
Chicago. Nov. 5.-Confronted by
statements Of both miners and op-
orators that the country was in
for q long struggle in the bitumi-
nous coal fields, where production
virtually has been at q standstiIl
since the nation wide strike Of min
ers went into effect at midnight
Friday night, some quarters today
still apparently were pervaded by
an undercurrent OF optimism re-
garding an early settlement of the
big walkout. Indications were that
The mine workers leaders and the
coal mine operators were sparring
for an opening that might lead to
an amicable settlement Of the dis
pute.
willing to Negotiate.
Statements OF Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Fedora
tion Of Labor, that dissolving OF
the federal injunction which has
sealed the lips and stopped the &C.
tivities of the miners leaders In
forwarding the strike, might point
the way to peace, and Of John l.
Lewis. acting president Of the
United Mine Workers Of America
that negotiations could start any
time were pointed to as indicative
Of the willingness Of the working
men to negotiate.
Fuel Shortage Threatens.
As the approximately 425,00t
miners added another days idle.
ness to the strike the fuel short.
age made itself felt further by the
public In some parts Of the country
-,1aotably Montana. From st. Louis
falso. It was reported that a fuel
shortage threatened. Other places
mainly west Of the Mississippi
frantically were making whal
preparations were possible to com.
bat the advent of winter. In ths
central and eastern districts no Sc.
we're shortage today had beer
threatened, and reassuring state
ments were issued by officials II
aome sections.
So far railroad operation has no,
been interfered with and the clos.
ing down Of no industry because
of the strike has been reported.