The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-31
FUEL TO LAST
THREE WEEKS
IN U. S. STOCKS
Miners Have Advantage, as
They Can Hold Out Longer
Than Can Supply.
LEWIS WILL NOT WEAKEN
Right to Strike Reaffirmed as
Operators Call Meeting
in Cleveland.
LEWIS WILL NOT WEAKEN
By q s.ar core.pondent Of rnn sus


INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 30.-The stage is
set here for the trial of the final issue
of trade union dominance in the
United States. 1t will be fought ont
in the courts and it will be fought ou5
in the industry OF the nation.
The United States District Court
here tomorrow morning will pass on
the first phases of the legal battle.
United States Judge Anderson has re-
served the day for the appearance of
Special Deputy Acknowledgement
Ames.
A large force Of United States mar
shals and agents of the Department
of Justice are already on the ground
under John T. Creighton OF the Bu-
reau Of Investigation. None Of these
persons will admit knowledge of the
Attorney Generals plans in detail. All
are expecting action, and drastic &C
ton. They point out that the issue
has already been Joined.
President Wilson has shown that
the strike OF the miners imperils the
safety OF the nation. John l.. Lewis OF
the United Mine Workers asserts that
nothing can interfere with the right
OF mon to strike as guaranteed by the
Constitution and the interpretations
OF the Supreme Court.
, Epoch Making Event in Clash.
| these two interests, that Of the nation
as whole and that of the individual
or the leRalized association OF indi-
| viduals. come into such conflict as they
are in to-day. Lawyers here are re-
| ferring to It as the complement Of the
Dred Scott decision. 1t is presumed
] here that the Attorney -G eneral will
move for an injunction against the Of
| fcers OF the mine workers to restrain
them from influencing the miners to
break their unexpired contract. The
miners after probable failure to prove
| that the war is over and the contract
terminated will fall back on their right
! to strike as cited in Lewis's reply to
| Secretary of Labor Wilson to-day un-
der the Constitution and the decisions
of the Supreme Court Upon this issue
| it is expected here that some new law
! may be written before the litigation
ends
In the meanwhile the operators are
gathering in Cleveland, where they have
established their great headquarters
Men who spoke for them here tonight
confessed they did not know what the
| operators could do. They reiterated
| the assertion that they will meet mere
| ly to be together and ready to act in
| any emergency.
They are counted on TO carry on the
fight In the nations industry. Even
| their friends here admit that II they
show a tendency to back down 1t will
look as II the suspicion of collusion,
frequently bruited about here, was we'll
founded.
Lewis Makes n observation.
John L. Lewis is standing pat in his
defiance OF the Federal Administration
! but still leaving open prudent door Tor
, possible future retreat Despite the vi
tuperation which he heaps upon Presi-
/ dent Wilson and the Cabinet, Mr.. Lewis
is careful TO insert the following
clause:
I'VE shall hold ourselves in readiness
| to attend any joint conference which
! may be arranged by you upon fair
basis and stand ready to reconvene an
| international convention of our. organi-
cation whenever our scale committee has
| received an honorable proposition for
presentation to such convention"
Edward Batty. who has spoken for
the operators here before, was asked
! to-day II be considered II possible that
the Cleveland conference of the oper-
ators might respond 10 this suggestion
from the miners and make new propo-
sition.
81 think not" he said. I'm hoping
they'll decide really to stick by the Gov
eminent and fight this thing out Le-
gally or practically 1t might Just as
we'll be decided now whether because a
certain group of men has this country
by the tail they can shake II down,
| even though they do 30 under the cloak
lNof the protection afforded the individual
worker and his union by the Constitu-
| tion. Does this protection entitle him
| to trample every one else?"
Mr.. Batty is under no delusion as to
| the strength OF the United Mine Work
ers in the premises
Advantage Of Miners.
Frankly, i believe he said, that
! all they'll have to dp Is to hold their
| breath to beat us. fhey can hold out
for three weeks and the country can't.
Even II you put the lwhoh half million
of them in jail yo,J can't make them
| work.
"If you take adv vkntsge OF the iso-
Il