The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-28
CABINET WILL
DISCUSS LABOR
DISPUTE TO-DAY
Direct Appeal to Workers
Probable in Hope of Assur-
ing Fuel Supply.
UNION LEADERS CRITICAL
Attitude in Steel Controversy
COntrasted With That in
Coal DeadlOcks.
Special Despatch TO THr suN.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-The next
move in the coal strike called for No
vember is up TO the miners of the
country.
officials who were primarily con-
cerned in the firm stand taken by the
Federal Government with reference
to continued coal production made it
plain to-day there was no intention to
antagonize the great number of work.
ing men in the mines or TO force the
issue. 1t is the hope OF these officials
that a referendum vote OF the men
will be taken before any strike is made
effective. They are confident, they
say. that If the mep vote there will be
no strike.
In the meantime no statement. Of
fetal or unofficial, will be made in re-
gard 10 the measures TO be taken by
the Government to enforce the law"
and 10 maintain coal production 10
such a point as to obviate suffering
by the public.
The entire labor situation will be
discussed at Cabinet meeting to-
morrow. The enforcement programme
will be reviewed and II is possible that
renewed efforts will be made through
direct appeal to the miners to en-
press their judgment before they
cav, The coal mines of the country.
1. this is done the men will he given
Issurance that the Government is by
no means prejudging their case and
believes that any grievance with re-
! spect to wages or working conditions
should be settled satisfactorily to the
men either through negotiation or ar
bitration.
VIII He No EquivocntiOn.
Meanwhile half a score OF high Gov
ernment officials are keeping an ear to
the ground 10 gauge the effect Of the
statement issued from the White House
/ Saturday night. They are anxious that
this statement be not construed as
threat against the men, but at the same
time they wanted II known there would
be no equivocation of the stand taken
should events make forcible steps by the
| Government necessary.
With the Government again in a
mood of watchful waiting. no further
! move was made in the strike situation
here. Secretary of Labor Wilson is
quietly using his influence to procure q
referendum vote of the miners before a
strike is called, while official Washing
| m 10 tnh tins he ald da
and word from the meeting OF the execu-
tive board of the United Mine Workers
at indianapolis
Wallace James and Edgar Wallace.
| representatives OF the mine workers who
| remained here when other officials went
back to headquarters or to the various
mine fields to take charge of the strike
arrangements, were critical to-day OF
the statement issued by the President.
They expressed the view that it was not
fair, in that the President had not taken
| e. II. Gary to task in the steel strike.
/ They also asserted that the strike vote
in the mine workers convention was a
! representative one They said the 2,000,
delegates who attended the convention
J we've selected by the 1900 local unions
/ affected, and that each of these locals
! had given instructions on demands con-
| sidered by the body, thus making the
strike vote Of the convention representa-
! tive Of the sentiment Of the men.
Treatment of Gary Resented.
| With reference to the Presidents
statement they said;
'It seems remarkable to the miners
that the Government should feel called
upon 10 use such extraordinary powers
/ when dealing with workers, while the
! ma 20 R,,l tie
powerless in any way to coerce great
aggregations Of capital as represented
! by Mr.. Gary.
| "lf the war is not over surely the
Government would be hampered by the
fact that the steel industry is para
| lyzed by the obstinacy and autocracy
of individuals and corporation directors
Instead of publicly rebuking Mr.
Gary for refusing to confer with the mer
in his employ the Government honore6
him by placing him on the public com,
mittee in the industrial conference. II
1t had not been for his autocratic atti
tude the things that the President com
plains of in his letter 10 the miners might
not have come TO pass. II the war /!
still on, as the operators and the Gov
| ernment' claim. then the contract which
the miners are accused Of violating wa:
first violated by the operators. and tn,
Government not only sanctions this vic
lation by the operators but made pro
vision for It when the Fuel Administra
ton removed the price restriction OF
coal
"The contract was predicated on thu
selling price of coal. Being made II
wartime, when coal was so. urgent
necessity, the selling price was placed
at figure on which the high cost min,
could operate. The low cost mine tina
could produce at low figures was abl,
TO make enormous profits. Since tn,
withdrawal of the price limit by tn,
! cottinssd on Futh Page.