The Washington times., 1919-12-04
COAL OUTLOOK WAR;.
WITH BINS EMPTY.
Court Edict Stirs Labor to
Fight, While Miners
Refuse to Return.
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Continued from First Page)
ceedings before Judge Anderson are
! regarded as a declaration or war
upon the rights which labor has re-
garded as incontestible.
1--WE will fight this matter out TO
| finish" stated an A. f. of l. ofhciai
1 today.
Rank and File Against Return.
The overwhelming feeling among
| labor men is that John L. Lewis and
his fellow LEADERS have scrupulousIy
obeyed the court injunction, ana that
the evidence against them VIII ran
| to the ground. On the other hand. 1t
Is not denied that the strong senti-
ment among miners everywhere Is
that there should be no return to
work, and that doubtless the leaders
could not be entirely ignorant of how
the rank and hle felt about the
matter. The various charges that
district leaders have openly defed
the law in encouraging the strike may
have some basis in truth, the labor
officials admit. inasmuch as many OF
them have been under no discipline
from headquarters since the injunc-
tion went into effect.
A. #. Of l.. Backs Miners.
officials of the American Fedora
ton of Labor were today preparing
to offer every assistance to the mine
workers organization.
Just as determined to night to a
nnal victory is the Department of
Justice. and Attorney General Palmer
has behind him the backing Of the
Administration. The action taken by
the United States attorneys in Indi-
ana is but one indication of the pur-
pose of the Attorney Geenral to en-
force the law to it's full extent, and
| it Is understood that similar action
may be expected in other places. and
| that the operators will not escape IL
| there Is evidence that they are at
| tempting to interfere with coal pro-
| duction.
The public's sacrifice in the war was
being discussed today. Fuel Admin
| istrator Garfield was to return to
Washington today to confer with
Director General Hines Of the Rail-
! road Administration relative to fur
ther restrictions upon the use Of coal.
Must Cut Coal Use Further.
Already restrictions have been made
| which are as stringent as those en-
forced during the European war. but
unless coal production increases with
| in the next few days, IL will be neces-
| sary to take further steps. Non
essential industries have already been
limited in their supplies of coal. 1t
Is believed here that within a week
the fuel administrator will re-estab-
lish lightless nights and will curtail
the use of coal by theaters and places
OF amusement.
DR.. Garfield has indicated that he
would take such steps before he
| would curtaiI the distribution OF coal
to essential industriesi
! Public opinion is being aroused. and
the protests that are flooding the
Fuel Administration Indicate that
the coal famine is now bringing its
full force TO bear. Most of the pro-
tests received are against alleged in
equalities in the distribution of coal,
but officials of the Fuel Admin nistra-
ton declare that everything possible
Is being done to make a fair distri-
button of the small quantities of coal
which are available
The Railroad Administration today
Is engaged in the diversion of coal
from Eastern points to the Middle
west. The suffering in the Middle
west is reported to be acute, and all
coal available is being sent to those
states where the famine is at it's
worst.