The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-30

of fuel"
Garfield and Hines There.
Doctor Garfield was at the White
House before the cabinet met in spe-
cialz session to put final approval on
plans to protect the public when the
strike of the miners goes into effect
Saturday. Director General Hines
also was summoned to give detailed
report of conditions confronting the
railroad administration. Members of
the cabinet were particularly anxious
to know how long the rail stock of
fuel would last and how rapidly coal
was being moved from the mines. 1t
had been expected that the first step
in the general campaign of the gov
eminent would be to bring back the
fuel administration which still exists
altho its working organization has
pointed out, however, that the rail-
road administration could WELD all
of the powers vested heretofore in his
orga nization. The preferential list
under which coal may be allocated
and distributed will stand without
change except for elimination of "mu-
nitions plant" which in wartime
took a considerable part of the WISH
BILE supply.
Protection for miners willing to re-
main at work in the mines despite
the strike order was given serious
general understanding is that the
ordinary police forces, state and local
will be used first but troops will be
ordered to the mines if necessary.
Congress was virtually helpless in
the face of the announced determine
ton of labor leaders to go thru with
the strike as scheduled.
1t was expected the senate and pos
sibly the house would go on record in
vigorous protest against any compro-
mise, but congress was looking to the
White House for whatever action is
necessary.
Congress Passes Buck.
'It is up to the executive arm of the
government" Senator Frelinghuysen,
New Jersey. chairman of the sub
committee investigating the coal stu
alton. said today. There is nothing
we in congress can do. But now we
have chance to find out if we have a
strong government or not"
If there is anything that congress
can do, however, 1<Frelinghuysen,
backed by many other senator's, will
do it, they made clear today. An eff
fort was expected to be made to bring
up the resolution of Thomas, Colorado,
which would assure the president and
the secretary of war of the moral sup
port of congress in any steps they may
deem necessary.
Contract Still Binding.
Senators take the position that the
coal miners have an agreement with
the government and that in the legal
sense the war is not yet over and the
agreement is, therefore, still binding
In his statement issued last night
Palmer said:
By enacting the food and fuel control
act, congress has recognized the vital
importance in the present circum stances
Of maintaining production and dis
tribution of the neceSsaries of life and
has made it unlawful for any concerted
action. agreement or arrangement to
be made by two or more persons to
limit the facilities of transportation
and production or to restrict the sup
ply and distribution of fuel, or to aid
or abet the doing of any act having
this purpose or effect Making a strike
effective under the circumstances which
have described amounts to such con-
certed action or arrangement. 1t is the
solemn duty Of the department of JUS
tice to enforce this statute.