Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-10-28
HOPING STRIKE
OF MINERS WILL
BECALLED OFF
Washington Officials Accept
Summons For Scale Com
mittee as Indication
POSTPONEMENT AT LEAST
Government Awaits Next Step
Which Must Come From
Diggers of Coal
By Associated Press


Washington. Oct. 2S.-Hope was
expressed in official quarters to-day
that the soft coal strike set for Satur-
day would be postponed if not call
ed off.
Announcement that John Il. Lewis,
president of the United Mine Work
ers of America. had summoned men,
bers of the full scale committee TO
meet the international Executive
Board at Indianapolis tomorrow,
was accepted as an indication that
President Wilson's command to the
miners organization not to plunge
the country into industrial chaos
might me needed.
In full belief that officers of the
international body who ordered the
strike have power to stop it, Gov
ernment officials awaited the next
step which must come from the
miners. Confidential reports from
the Central coal field territory indi-
Gated, it was said, that not all of the
mining army of more than half a
million men would quit work.
Cabinet Meets
Steps to be taken by the Govern
ment to deal with the strike. if it
takes place, will be considered
finally to-day at a meeting OF tie
Cabinet. There was a more hope
full view in Cabinet circles. but this
did not altar the Governments de-
termination to be ready with all It's
machinery to meet the situation il
the Miners quit.
Meanwhile the Railroad Admins
tration continued its efforts to ex-
pedite movement of coal from the
mines by ordering all coal not un-
loaded by owners within "a hours
to be dumped on the ground so as
to release care for their immediate
return to their coal fields. The Of
flee of Director General Hines de-
MED that orders had been issued for
confiscation of coal for operation OF
trains.
Officials to-day pinned their hope
of averting the strike of bituminous
miners called for Saturday at the
meeting tomorrow in indianapolis
of the executive board of the Union
Mine Workers of America
Study of union bylaws, officials
said to-day revealed that the eXecu-
tive board has power to call off the
strike or at least to order a post
ponement. Should President wilson's
appeal to the miners be needed to
the extent of postponement. offici-
ais here feel that the strike will be
aVerted, for postponement would be
certain to bring with it negotiations
for new wage agreement.
In the face of statements by
John l.. Lewis, president of the
miners organization, that it was too
late now to stop the walkout, there
was strong belief in official quar-
ters that the strike would at least
be postponed. This hope of avert
ing industrial disaster was based
largely on the feeling that sentiment
throughout the country was over
whelmingly for peace, regardless OF
how the people might view the re-
ported grievances of the miners.
Thomas Explains
Senator Thomas, Democrat. Colorado
explained to the Senate to-day that bill
he introduced yesterday did not provide
for the use of soldiers in operating the
coal mines in the event of strike oil
miners but merely for their use ir
keeping open the channels of transpor.
tation.
At his request action on his resolu.
ton pledging the support of Congress
to the administration in preserving law
and order during the strike, was de,
ferred until tomorrow.