The Topeka state journal., 1919-11-05
FIGHT
IT TO A
Finish
BREACH WIDENS
IN MINE STRIKE
Government Refuses FIatIy To
Fdcdte 1HJunctIOH'
Miners RetOrt That 1t Means
Slight to a Finish"
BIG STRIKE is DENOUNCED
Federal Officer Says 1t Is in
Violation of the Law.
Government Cannot Tolerate
Such Actions Now"
FUEL SUPPLY is DIMINISHED
Federal Officer Says 1t Is in
Violation of the Law.
"GOYernment Cannot Tolerate
Such Actions Now"
FUEL SUPPLY is DIMINISHED
Strike Reduces Production
ThruOut the United States.
Mining 1000 OOO Tons Day
Despite Big WaIkout.
BULLETIN.


Nashville Tenn. Nov. 5.-One SOL
der has been killed and another
wounded in the coal fields near Knox
vile, according to word received at
the capitol today. The man who was
killed was a United STATES regular and
the wounded man member of the
state militia. Confirmation of the re-
poat was received from Adju-ant-Gen
eral Baxter Sweeny. No details were
given. The men We're on duty in the
coal region.
Washington, Nov. 5-The govern
ment cannot accept the proposal OF.
organized labor to end the coal strike
by vacating the Injunction against the
officials of U. NJ. w. A. Assistant Attor-
ney General Ames in absence of Attor-
ney General Palmer. announced today
that the government could not aban-
don its position because the strike was
in violation of law.
JuCGe Ames issued the following
statement:
The strke-is a violation of law. AS
long, as it continues we are going to
proceed in the courts. The dispute
between the mine owners and workers
is an entiRely different question that
they can settle in their own way The
government cannot tolerate continued
violation of the law such as this strike
constitutes"
His statement came in direct re-
sponse to one from Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Fedora ton
of Labor. who declared that if the in
junction were vacated he had an
abiding faith" that negotiated peac~
could be arranged between the strik-
ers and operators.
Amcs's utterarce was considered an
indirect reply to the hints hich have
come from other labor leaders-inti-
nations that abandonment of the gov
ernments injunction suit would lead
to arbitration. 1T had a shattering ef-
feet on the peace talk" which had
been going around Washington for
more than 4 day.
Means Long Fight
Refusal of the government to vacat te
the injunction means a long fight in
the coal fields while its withdrawal
would have opened the way for settle
ment of the strike within AS hours
according TO Edgar Wallace, legisla-
tive representative of the L. NJ. w A
If the injunction were withdrawn
the scale committees representine
miners and operators could get togeth.
er IN twenty-four hours and settle
their differences at one sitting" Wal
lace said The strike, however
would not be called off until a new
wage agreement was reached"
The miners committee with power
to accept the new agreement coult
call off the strike without referrins
the question to a delegate convention
Wallace said.
Fight TO a Finish.
Springfield. H.. Nov. SIT look.
like a fight to the finish"
This was the terse statement toda,
of Frank harrington, state presideni
OF the miners organizat ton, wheI
shown the Washington dispatch indf
eating the government intends to stant
by the federal injunction issued at In.
dianapolis.
Assistant Attorney General Anne:
evidently misunderstands the psychoI
ogy of the mine workers of Amer
ica," harrington declared He an
parently is unfamiliar with the eco
nomic conditions under which tn,
miners work else he would not make
such a definant declaration
The injunction will never settI,
this strike. II may discourage tn,
men and defeat them in isolated spots
hut this procedure is bound to fail fl
its effect on the general situation e.
THE miners have no desire to def,
the government. They all are goot
Americans and will stand by the gov
ernment so long as it stands by them
All they ask is the same treatmen
accorded other citizens of our countr-
and the fact that the government ma
attempt to- deny that consideration
will orly make them more determine,
to carry on the strike
Farripcton declared the strike situa
tion in Illinois remains unchanged an,
continues 100 per cent strong.
Lewis Has Nothing to Say.
IndianaDoIi Nov. 5.-When in
formed of the statement of Judg
Anes. aeeistant attorney general, Joi1
ifConfinned on rnge Two.J