The sun., 1919-10-26
Wilson in Bed Signs State
ment Drawn and Approved
by the Cabinet.
A WARNING TO LABOR
Proposed WalkOut Con-
demned as Unjustified
and Unlawful.
SAYS WAR rs NOT ENDED
Power Of Seizure Under the
Food Control Act to Be
Invoked.
A WARNING TO LABOR
SAYS WAR rs NOT ENDED
Special Despatch to The SUI.

Special Despatch to THE Sun.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 25.-The Federal
Government will not permit the clos
ing down of the coal mines of the
country by a strike November 1.
The Federal Government will take
over the mines and operate them for
the benefit of the people of the coun-
try unless the miners strike Is called
off, or will proceed against striking
miners who violate the laws by inter
fering with production of coal.
In forceful statement issued from
the White House tonight the impend
ing strike was called morally wrong,
unjustifiable and unlawful and 1t was
made plain that the Government
would take over and operate the
mines.
The forceful stand by the Govern
mert came as a complete surprise in
Washington. 1t was drafted at
meeting Of the Cabinet this morning
and revamped late in the afternoon.
1t Is expected to give a definite check
to the nationalists and the other rad
icals In the labor forces Of the
country.
Power Under Food Control Act.
The statement Is by the President
and while not specifically so stated it
Is directed to the people of the United
States. While 1t is emphatic in the
! declaration that the strike Is unlawful
and the law will be enforced it leaves
to speculation the manner of enforce
ment.
While the statement contained no
direct intimation of what steps the
Cabinet had discussed to prevent stop
page of work should the Presidents
warning to the miners to rescind the
strike order fail of result, 1t was re-
called that Secretary Baker In re-
cent address in Cleveland announced
that department commanders had
been directed to furnish troops at the
request of Governors without refer.
ring the matter to Washington.
1t Is plain, however, that the mines
will be taken over under the Lever
act, more commonly known as the
food control act. The act provides
that whenever the President shall
find that 1t Is essential In order to
assure an adequate and continuous
supply of necessaries. he is author
lied to requisltion and take over for
use or operation by the Government
any factory, plant, mine or establish.
ment or any part thereof in which
any necessaries are or may be manu-
factured, mined, produced or pre-.
pared"
The Presidents statement point out
that the country is still in state of
war. The Lever act runs until the
! proclamation Of peace.
Under this act and its recent amend
ments any plan, attempt or arrange
ment to stop, hinder or limit produc-
ton of any necessity Is made a crime
and those responsible can be indi-
vidually punished
The Presidents Statement.
Just what step the Government will
take cannot be foretold definitely
| Whether the mines will be taken over
or those who attempt to stop produc-
ton prosecuted is not known. Under
! the Lever act the Government can do
| either The Cabinet and the Presi-
dent were fortified with the opinion
of Attorney General Palmer before Is
suing the statement.
The Presidents statement was the re-
suit Of two long Cabinet sessions to-
| day. The Presidents advisers met at
the White House with Secretary of the
| Treasury Glass presiding in the absence
Of Secretary OF State Lansing, who was
! i'll. Every other member OF the Cabins,
was present, as was also Director-GeG-
! eral OF Railroads Hines.
The morning Cabinet session was
| given to discussion OF not only the general
| labor situation and the threatened caal
strike but the industrial conferences. =
, was determined to call a new Industrial
| conference to be representative of the
public OF the United States, which In
cludes all classes and with no specifi,
! representation for either employers or
employees. This conference will not have
any groups" Action by the Cabinet
was based on the report OF the public
group at the recent conference and was
approved by the President. The Cabinet
| announced that the new body will con-
sist OF approximately ffteen of the mos.
prominent Americans and that names
now being considered by the Cabinet
will be recommended to tho President"
While the coal strike statement was
signed by the President II was not
drafted By him. Tho frst dgsft was