Americus times-recorder., 1919-10-30

Coal Strikers Warned
of Arrest By almer

however, run until time still in the
future without regard for the con-
tinuation of the war.
while it is perfectly plain that the
war is still on and any contract run
ming until its conclusion is still in
force, whatever weight may be given
to the argument that the successful
operation of the war, no longer re-
qulre such contracts, it has no applica-
tlon whatever to the large number of
such contracts which expire at fixed
date without regard for the war Pc
riod. The armistice did not end the
war, and the courts in many cases
have held that the war emergency
statutes are still in force; the same
rule must apply to war emergency
contracts. The Congress has held to
this position so late as October %,
when an act of Congress was approx
ed making even more effective the
food and fuel control act.
"The suspension of the restrictions
as to the price of coal is not necessa-
rily permanent and conditions war;
rant a renewal of these restrictions
at this time; and yet the government
if it reinstated the order fixing a
maximum price would be absolutely
helpless to protect the people against
exorbitant prices of the product if
the contracts made under its sanction
should now be deliberately broken.
This does not mean that a change
could not be negotiated and either
agreed upon or arbitrated, if proper
protection of the public be accorded
in the settlement, but it does mean
that the public welfare in the war
time emergency must still be the
same permanent interest to be serv-
ed by both parties. The government
is the protector of the public well
fare.
Would Paralvze Industry.
"The proposed st'jke, if carried to
its logical conclusion, will paralyze
transportation and industry. 1t will
deprived unnumbered thousands of
men who are making no complaint
about their employment of their right
to earn livelihood for themselves
and their families; will put cities in
darkness, and, if continued only a
few days, will bring cold and hunger
to millions of our people; if contin-
ued for a month, it will leave death
and starvation in it's wake. 1t would
be more deadly attack upon the life
of the nation than an invading army.
"By enacting the food and fuel
control act Congress recognized the
vital Importance in the present cir
cumstances of maintaining production
and distribution of the necessaries of
life and has made it unlawful for any
concerted action, agreement or the ar
rangement to be made by two or more
persons to limit the facilities of trans
portation and production, or to re-
strict the supply and distribution of
fuel, or to aid or abet the doing of
any act, having this purpose or eff
feet. Making a strike effective under
the circumstances which have de-
scribed amounts to such concerted ac-
ton or arrangement.
at is the solemn duty of the de-
partment of justice to enforce this
statute. We have enforced it in
many cases. We must continue to do
so, irrespective of the persons in
volved in its violation, hope it will
not be necessary to enforce it in this
case. Indeed, I am hearing from
many sources that large numbers of
the miners themselves do not wish to
quit work and will not do so if assured
of the protection of the government,
of which they properly feel them
selves a part. 1t is probably un-
necessary for me to say that such pro
lection will everywhere be given, so
that men may exercise their undoubt-
ed right of continuing to work under
such terms and conditions as they
shall see fit. The facts present a sit
uation which challenges the suprem-
acy of the law and every resource of
the government will be brought to
bear to prevent the national disaster
which would inevitably result from
the cessation of INNINGS operations"