Martinsburg W Va evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1913-1920, 1919-12-06
GOVERNORS TOLD
NOT TO INTERFERE
WITH GOVERNMENT
Wartime Powers Brought
To Their Attention.

Washington. Dec. 1.-The war
powers of President Wilson and DR..
Garfield 10 deal with the coal com
pany have been brought to the at
tention Of the governors Of tho mid
western states who ar, attempting
TO settle the strike and fuel crisis
on basis of their own, with the
intimation that the authority of the
federal government must not be IN
tcrfered with.
In a message to Governor Cox, of
Ohio, and other governors. the at.
toorney general has announced the
policy Of the federal government as
being that of not permitting any in
crease in the price of coal to the
onsuming public and declaring DR.,
Gartield's suggestion of a IA per
cent increase To the miners to be
fair and equitable proposition.
The federal government is fol
lowing the principle In seeking
settlement of the strike that the
public must not be called upon to
pay an increased price for coal I'M
der any wage advance that may be
granted to the miners" said DR.
| Garfield today. The government
found that IA per cent represents
the sum between the present in
| crease in the cost of living and tho
| per cent of wage increase since
1918. Consequently, this per cent
has been suggested to the miners
and operators as basis of settlement
and has been accepted by the oper.
ators.'
In reviewing the coal situation
! throughout the country DIR. Gar
field stated that he sees signs Of
Improvement. In many localities
small groups of miners are begin
ming to return to work and the
production of coal is showing an
Increase daily over the latter part
of last week.
Gang fear and union politics Is
attributed " the operators com
mlttee in Washington as the prime
reason for the continuance OF the
strike.
Immediate payment by the rail
Dad administration for coal that
has been turned over To 1t for dis.
tribution by the mines IN Wet Vir.
mia since the government assum
d war time control of full WAS de-
manded today by the Sno'5eleee
Coal Operators association OF West
Virginia IN communication t. Fl. II
Spence, chairman of TIE Central
Coal committee of the railroad az
ministration. Two demand was mado
through Edward ]. McVann, Of
Washington, attorney for the asso.
citation.
Shipments ImpeJIIed
Washington, Dec. G. Coastwide
coal shipments to New England
and points on the eastern coastboard
we're lmperilled today when 1t be
came nown that the longshoremen
engaged in handling the coast wide
traffic may 20 on strike Monday.
/ Efforts to arbitrate the differences
and avert strike are being made
Should tho strike occur coal ship.
ments to New England will be com
pletely tied up. Shiprents by boats
to Charloston Norfolk, Baltimore.
IA ladclphia and New York will al.
20 como 10 a standstill.
Attempt Frustrated
Washington, Dec. 6.-Attempt of
radical agitators to bring about a
4 strike Of anthracite coal minors
have been frustrated. the depart.
ment OF justice announced this aft
ernoon. Agents reported that agita
tors had been driven from the fields
and anthracite mncrs had refused
TO heed them and had brought the
! production of anthracite coal up 10
l25 per cent Of normal. Large
quantitieq Of radical literature urg-
ing the 'proletariat government
were ! from The agitators, the
4 agents ported
Early Settlement
Columbus. O., Dec 6.-An early
settlement of the coal strike in
! Ohio seems probable today.
Despite the fact that all tho par.
ties to the conference Of yesterday
4 Governor Cox, the operators and
the miners-reseryc silence an IN.
mistakable air Of optimism ,aieDed
In all quarters
The conference VIII be- resumed
] Monday. At thai time Governor
/ Cox is expected to press for a fin
al settlement While the plans Of
settlement are unknown # Is be
lieyed that wage increase 81 p
per cent VIII form the basl Of the
I proposed compromise