The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-11-11
Question Now is Whether Un-
ion Miners Will Obey Or
ders and Go Back to
Work.
ARE LIKELY TO REFUSE
Radicals May Seek to Impose Leader
ship and Stir Up Serious
Trouble in Many
Localities.

Il Unlteo PreSS Leased wire SeFV1coJ
WASHINGTON, Nov. 11.-Armis-
tice day. anniversary of the German
surrender and the end Of fighting in
the great war, found the nations
capital waiting tensely to see what
the 100000 striking coal miners
would do in response to annulment Of
the strike order If the miners re-
fuse to obey their leaders orders to
go back to work, there were many
here who believed an Industrial war
would result
When word reached here that the
miners council, sitting in Indianapo-
lis, had reluctantly obeyed Federal
Judge Anderson's order and rescind-
ed the strfke cah, the First question
was:
What will the miners do
Government agents We're instructed
to watch closely all fields to see
whether the men would return to
their jobs and whether reds" were
making an effort to control them It
was believed many Of the miners
would refuse to heed cancellation OF
the strike order, knowing their lead
ers took the action under protest,
and that "bolshevists who are known
to be in the coal fields would seize
the opportunity to impose their
leadership on the miners.
The exact plan Of campaign in
event the miners ignore withdrawal
Of the strike call is ready to be put
into execution. It will take the form
principally of extending protection OF
those miners who do want to resume
work, herding trouble makers out of
the fields and preserving order.
The fact the union officials have
complied with the courts order ends
the courts responsibility, it was
held here. Federal authorities now
must see to it that civil war does
not break out during this most crit
ical period Of the strike.
The nations coal supply is very
low, due to the tieup of more than
a week, and mining records must be
broken if a serious shortage is not TO
be experienced, it was learned. The
most optimistic officials felt the
miners probably would not be in a
mood to break records.
Surrender of the strike leaders left
the American Federation Of Labor
in an awkward position. it appeared
today Sunday night the executive
council of the federation issued a.
statement pledging full support to the
miners and denouncing the court.
1t now seems the federation will
have nothing to support it's stand, un-
less it takes over control and direc-
ton of the mine strike despite the
action of the mine leaders. This pos
sibility was being discussed here to-
day =
The executive council of the Amer
lean Federation Of Labor was to
meet again late today.
The council will discuss the deci-
sion of officials of the United Mine
Workers union to comply with the
order of Judge Anderson.
A majority of the council believes
the miners made grave mistake"
in deciding to withdraw the strike
order, one member of the executive
council said here early today.
Council members were nearly
unanimous in the belief that the rank
and file of the miners will return
to work The union viii then be IN
a position. it was emphasized, to call
new strike when peace is ratified
and the Lever food and fuel act is
repealed.
Sooner or later, labor leaders said,
the miners must fight a finish battle
with the operators.
Miners will be in position to
negotiate with operators as soon as
majority are back at work. it was
pointed out. In this the labor Off
cials feel the government must help.
The labor department today was
watching the situation carefully
ready to offer its good offices toward
(Cont;nued on page %