Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-27
NO ANNOUNCEMENT
OF GOVERNMENTS
POLICY YET MADE:
But Protection Would Be
Afforded Men Who
Stuck to Jobs.
SECRETARY WILSON MAY
GO TO INDIANAPOLIS
Lewis and Committee Claim War
Ended With Signing of
Armistice.
PRESIDENTS VIEW DIFFERENT
Union Officials Will Probably Make
Suitable Reply" to Statement ,
of Chief Executive.
SECRETARY WILSON MAY
GO TO INDIANAPOLIS
PRESIDENTS VIEW DIFFERENT
TPy Associated pro,,J


country waited expectantly today for
the miners answer to President Will
sons blunt command that the soft-cuai
strike order for Saturday be called off.
There was not word. however, to
show where the United Mine Workers
OF America stood. or what the govern
ment would do in the event the Presi-
dents solemn warning that the mines
must be kept In full and continuous
operation was ignored.
Considering the temper of labor Off
c1ai Washington TOOK the view that
hh Whiie there ode was hope OF compliance BY
me 100000 miners who had been or
s9rance that the wPs nd nPsolnte
part appeal and part COMMUNICATING
bring peace to the coal fields But
governments determination to see that
the people obtained an adequate coal
and permit the nations vast industries
to e9ntinue operation.
r,ent Mhiie deciining naturally to COM
should the strike take place, members
or me President's Cabinet intimated
folded hands In the face of threatened
industrial disaster.
Lewis Speeding Iomewnrd.
John L. Lewis. president of the Unit
man whose word would have most
weight with the 100000 ready to walk
ers er, hsa out Of touch with labor lead
Lewis left Washington last night For :
last that the situation was Unchanged
and that the union was still ready and
wiling to negotiate new wage agree
So far as it concerned the contro-
versy between the miners and opera
President Wilson was that the war
tms tins agreement. E which the miners con- :
fSna force no aoa lefgef esef snd exists s. IN iun
beyond April t. 1920 "f Looking Gsr Dat at it nHs IN
scale commtase laws aye aad saeadfastIy ede fui
mainta ined that the war ended with the
aar,m1istiee' ar,1 sas and and that the miners. for a
as their voluntary contribution to the
Job Of helping the country get back to
May Send Secretary Wilson.
There was a suggestion tonight that
the Cabinet might desire to SEND SecreS
sncyy,. sary Of Labor Wilson to Indian
board of the United Mine workers Of
America which viii meet there We'd
nIesday In 1s;, dabor hsaders here said that
secretary to settle the strike and in the
light OF the Presidents emphatic an
members OF the board might pave the
The strike call was issued and
signed by executive officers OF the
United Mine Workers lin conformity
national convention" at Cleveland SE .ia lies on
September %. and while President
hewis lev s. deelined while here to discuss
that the men who had the power w ITO to
order the strike. likewise have tho
power to call it off. Some labor off,
act for the whole organization. and
that Lewis and the other executive
officers could hold up or withdraw the
James % Lord ey saw of t the 10 do pnns so
workers division of the American
Federation of Labor, declined to com
ment on the strike situation
Governments Policy Withheld,
1t was said tonight there would be
no announcement of the governments.
policy respecting operation Of the
mines ,rhs,sa. until it WAS, was definitely known
the strike. But there seemed to be
no doubt of the fact that ample pro-
lection would be afforded miners who
was no strike vote by the men the
belief prevails in some quarters that
not not all of the thousands affected by
The next move toward settlement
OF the strike, it was said must come
from the miners. the operators hav-
dent Wilson'S proposal. made to the
JOINT conference Friday, that the two
Slues start with new slate. negotiate
their differences, resorting to arbitra-
tion only when negotiations failed,
ana keep the mines in operation. SEQ
retary wilson has explained that the
miners agreed to negotiate. but held
over for future consideration the uues
ton Of arbitration and withdrawal OF
the strike order.
olhcials believe II is possible to re-
open the case in view OF Lewis state
ment that the miners were willing to
neGotiate new wage agreement the
big bone Of contention. An offer TO
eh,s eRsc,eirs eject may may be presented to the
nesday. II that body does not act frst
or It's own accord.
PRESIDENT LEWIS QUIET
sp,,nN on ACTION OF MINERS
plying to the statement OF President
wilson that the proposed strike OF
sort coal miners, called for November
J. ts "untustifable and unlawful,~ John 4
l. Lewis: acting president of the United
Mine Workers OF America, decIarsd
tonight "the status quo" prevailed.
Asked whether the PRESIDENTS decIa-
ration would MI i,44. e~li< Z