The Washington times., 1919-12-19
PALMER WILL DROP
ACTION ON MINERS
Attorney General Announces He
Will Not Prosecute Coal
Strike Leaders.
Continued from First Page

Department Of Jusice with instruc-
tions to send 1t to the President.
The President approved the agree
meut and it was presented to the
miners convention at indianapolis on
the following day.
Creates Sensstiea.
This document, 1t was revealed, for
the first time today. provides that the
Presidents coal commission, which IS
to be created under the agreement
shall contain q mine owner or opera :
tor" as one OF ~ks members, but II
makes no mention concerning the re-
naming personnel. II is not provide.i
that either the miners or the consum-
ing public shall be represented on
the commission.
The presentation, Of this documen,
by the Attorney General created a
sensation before the commission, ana
for the hrst time, brought out the
fact that the Attorney General was
Ia conference with Mr.. Lewis while
1 travelling on the same train with him
to Indianapolis from Washington, and
that the arrangements which had al
ready been reached in the conferences
on Saturday night were discussed. srd
a memorandum prepared covering the
/ sense of them, and the proposed Plan
Il
/ Docune.t SuYDrise.
4 While in q general way. the terms
j of the settlement have been ma1c
public since the Indianapolis confer
ence, 1t was not known until today
that a document covering the mat
ter had been prepared by Mr.. Paimer
and the acting president Of the
miners union and signed with the
Il initials Of each
viii you allow the document to 20
into the recordT' asked Senator
Townsend.
'Oh, certainly" replied Mr.. Palmer.
He then explained that he had writ
ten out the memorandum on the train
for the purpose of getting into exact
form what had been understood in
the conferences between himself and
the officials of the miners union on
the previous day, and that after he
had written 1t, he submitted it to
Mr.. Lewis. who approved it, and
placed his initials at the bottom, and
the Attorney General attaching his
own initials at the same time.
II 1t was agreed to hold back the
details Of the proposed settlement
because the union men did not wish
their men to learn 1t merely through
the newspapers.
ME. FolmeT, COlQ OF tno proposed
ceal commission and said It is to in
quire into costs. profits, wages, and
other features of the coal industry.
Senator Walcott Questioned him
sharply concerning the plan for a
coal commission.
"what becomes Of the Fuel Admin
istration under this commission? 20
asked Senator Walcott.
'SThe Presidents statement Of De-
cember 8 settles that" said Mr. Pal
mer.
Mr.. Palmer said ne had prepared a
memorandum ON the train to Indian
apolis which covered the proposition
that had been entered into at his
office. This document was initiated
BY himself and Acting President
Lewis OF the miners union and tele-
graphed to tho President from In
\ dianapolis, and later, after 1T had
been approved by the President was
placed before the miners convention
at Indianapolis and accepted.
II Co.fers With Leaders.
John J. Keegan. member of the
Federal Workmen's Compensation
Commission. called on me on Decem-
Der 3 and said he was convinced a
proper solution could be worked out
il Mr.. Lewis and Mr.. Green could dis.
cuss it with me-" Palmer said.
Il told him I was there to see any
person.
KeegAn called me later and said
both Lewis and Green were unable to
come to Washington, because of the
Indictment against them" Palmer
said.
You had instituted proceeding,
against them?' Townsend asked.
my representatives had" Palmer
answered.
"keegan called again on Friday
December 8. and told me Lewis ano
Green would be in Washington Satur
day afternoon" Palmer said.
a saw Lewis, Green. Keegan ano
another man named James Saturda,
afternoon at my home. Palmer con
tinued.
There was no other person there %
Townsend asked
NO" Palmer said.
Palmer declared the Government
would not compromise and has neye,
been for compromise.
Il would not say 1 made a settle.
ment Palmer said in answer to q
question by Townsend.
/ The Government started out to enc
the strike. We have accomplished
| this. The men have gone back IL
work" Palmer said.
| Palmer said he believed the strike
was off on November IL, when the OF
hcers sent out orders withdrawing the
strike order.
When did the Department of Jus
| tice become active in this strike ~
Townsend asked.
II Recites Activities.
III During the week of November /
when We filed injunction at Indian.
l apolis," Palmer replied.
/ What did your injunction seek tc
do? Townsend asked.
I'VE sought to prevent the strike
said Palmer.
What statute did you base your ac
tion on?" Townsend asked.
'The Lever food control act" Pal
mer replied.
| I'VE urged the point OF violation OF
l wage contract"
II You have never changed your mint
as to the illegality of what the min.
ers tried to do" Townsend asked.
No" Palmer said
II "Is the injunction still in force >.