The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-10-25
CABINET IS
CONSIDERING
COAL STRIKE
President Calls Executive
Body Into Conference.-The
Attempt to Prevent Eco
nomlc Catastrophe.
is ABSENT
(By Associated Press)


WASHINGTON, Oct. 24-President
Wilson today, through Secretary
Tumulty, summoned the cabinet in
special session to consider the strike
OF bituminous coal miners called for
next Saturday.
Director General Hines, OF the rail-
road administration, was asked to
meet with the cabinet to present the
situation from the standpoint of the
railroads.
Secretary Lansing was confined to
his home with a cold, and could not
attend All other members of the
Presidents official family were pres
ent and Secretary Glass presided
Secretary Tumulty was present to
| convey the views of President Wilson
on the situation.
AS they entered the white house,
! the cabinet officials declined to make
any forecast Some members, how
ever, were said to hold the belief that
stern action was necessary, in the face
Of the grave industrial situation exist
ing over the country
definite program to be placed be-
fore President Wilson as to the gov
ernment's attitude will be formulated
by the cabinet this afternoon, il was
said at the while house.
While no definite position had been
taken when the cabinet recessed for
lunch, Secretary Tumulty said the dis
cussion of the morning session dis
closed that the presidents official
family was of one mind, and not
wee bit wobbly. He added that when
the program was presented to the
president, Mr.. Wilson was expected
TO make public statement
1t is said government operation Of
coal mines had not been discussed.
In the senate Senator Thomas in
troduced resolution calling upon the
executive branch Of the government
! to "vindicate the power and majesty
, of the law" in the threatened strike.
The resolution which is to be called
up Monday, declares the strike would
! provoke violence. bloodshed and in.
( surrecton."
: Still Squabbling.
= Representatives OF the miners and
operators today continued to charge
each other with having caused the
ending of negotiations. But the fact
remained that instructions were 60
ing out today to all locals of the Unit.
ed Mine Workers of America to sus-
pend work at midnight, next Friday,
and as these instructions went out,
consumers the country over looked
anxiously into their not too well filled
.. coal bins.
Government officials confronted by
the greater seriousness of the situa-
ton renewed their quest for some
2 means Of preventing the walkout
which H1nCa
: great coalfields of Pennsylvania, Ohio,
e West Virginia. Indiana and Illinois.
Further attempt at negotiation
e seemed hopeless to most officials In
e some quarters the oponion was ex.
4 pressed that President Wilson vet
e might find way to prevent human
e suffering and industrial disaster Incl
$ dent to the strike. 1t was pointed out
r that under the war time national de
+ Tense act, still in effect, the President
had the power to take over the mines
$ and compel their operation. There
! was no information forthcoming how
2 ever, as TO whether he would make
r another attempt, his efforts yesterday
r having failed.
$ While the operators accepted the
e Presidents proposal. made in a mes.
: sage conveyed TO both sides through
SECRETARY wilson, tle miners agreed
6 only to negotiate the disputed oues
g tions and held over for consideration
d the other proposals.. named. that the
l. controversies be submitted to arbitra
q ton if negotiations failed and that the
e mines be kept in operation pending
the negotiations
g Estimates today as to how long the
: coal stock of the nation would last
V varied but the average figure placed
s the reserve at little more than one
J. months supply.