The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-28
COAL PRODUCERS
TOBEPROTECTED
BY GOVT TROOPS
Solution of Coal Strike Problem
FOrecasted by Operators.
Union Leaders May Face Crimi-
nal Prosecution Now.
FEDERAL CONTROL PLANNED
Many of Operators Are Expect
ed to Cooperate Voluntarily.
Production Now Forty Per Cent,
Immediate Increase Expe~- ed.

Washington, Nov. 28.-Seiz-
ure of bituminous coal mines,
where the owners do not show a
disposition to cooperate in in
creasing production, and the use
of troops to protect all miners
who desire to work, have been
decided upon by the government
in an effort to end the bitumin-
Gus coal strike, it was said today
officially.
In mines seized by the govern
ment the Ia per cent wage adj
vance agreed upon by the cabinet
will be put into immediate effect
it was said.
These plans of the government
were agreed upon by the cabinet
last Wednesday, officials said, so
as to meet the situation resulting
from a refusal of the operators
or miners, or both, to agree to
the governments wage increase
proposal.
Cabinet officers expected many
mine owners TO put INTO effect vol
UNFAIRLY the fourteen per cent wage
increase Whether the mines of those
refusing to do so would be seized was
not~made clear. but it was said that
there was no general plan for govern
ment control; that each individual
case would be decided on its merits.
Tolerate No Profiteering.
Mines taken over by the government
will be operated by the fuel admins
tration but details as to compensation
to the owners were not disclosed
While various federal agencies were
ments program Fuea Administrator
GARFIELD, reaffirmed in even more en-
phatic terms his position that profit
eering on the part of labor or capital
will not be tolerated"
The public cannot and Will not be
asked to bear the increased burden OF
higher prices of coal nor the payment
of a large sum as wages to any special
class of workers" he said.
Pointing out that his conclusion hao
been reached only after careful and
exhaustive research. Dr. Garfield de-
clared neither the protestation of the
miners against the fourteen per cent
wage advance nor the insistance OF
the operators that they be permitted
to charge a higher price for coal
would induce him to alter his decision
that a fourteen per cent increase was
the amount necessary to bring the
miners wage up to the level of living
costs and that the operators could pay
this advance without increasing price:
to the public.
Start Criminal Suits.
President Wilson's cabinet meets to-
morrow The coal situation will be
the first question to be taken up. il
is expected. What action the govern
ment will decide upon is unknown
Federal operation of the mines is one
possibility, altho this is considered un-
likely. The government it is empha'
sized. would face the same difficulty
in getting miners to return to worl
that operators were unable to over
come.
More legal action by Palmer would
not get the miners back to work il
large numbers. according to many of.
ficials. Palmer now is understood tC
have evidence upon which to base
criminal suits against several leader:
in the miners union.
Since Judge Anderson issued the in
junction restraining leaders of thu
United Mine Workers from further
ing the strike which began Novembei
/. Palmer's agents have flooded hin
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