The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1919-12-05
TROOPS WILL BE SENT WHEH-
EVER NECESSARY TO PROTECT
WORKERS IN PITS
ALL NEGOTIATIONS ARE OFF
Miners Representatives Refuse to Ac-
cept ~ Per Cent Increase Author
ixec by Fuel Administrator
Situation 10 Serious

ment served blunt notice on soft coal
miners last night that interference
with coal production would not be toll
Grated
Warming that legal prosecution
would be employed to thwart con-
spiracies by either side and troops sent
where necessary TO protect miners
willing to work came from the depart
ment Of justice after members Of the
cabinet had considered every phase of
the fuel situation, admittedly critical,
In view of the abrupt breaking off Of
negotiations.
II Is not the intention Of the gov
ernment to let the mines remain idle
with half Of the country in the grip Of
cold weather and the coal supplies
rapidly diminishing.
The administration, 1t was thought
by those In position to know, had
fully expected the miners to reject
the IA per cent wage increase offered
by Fuel Administrators Garfield. An
tleipatlng this, plans had been con-
sidered for angmentlng the present
output Of bituminous mines, officially
figured at better than 40 per cent Of
normal.
statement by Assistant Attorney
General Ames issued late in the day
gave assurance to all miners that
they would be afforded ample pro-
lection IL they returned to work, even
II troops had to be called out. This
was the only definite statement Of
policy from the government In Off
cial circles. 1t was said that the fed.
eral authorities were determined TO
force resumption Of operations on the
terms laid down by the fuel admin.
istrator.
The department Of justice called
attention to the fact that Instructions
issued heretofore by the war depart
ment In connection with the POSSIBLE
ity of troops In coal fields regions
still were In effect and that depart
ment commanders stood ready to
guard the fields the instant their aid
was requested by the state authorities.
Operators last night set out to re-
sumo production, as far MS that was
possible under the mudded conditions,
by telcgraphing notice for posting ut
mines everywhere offering an In
crease Of Ia per cent for all men
willing to work.
There were few expressions as to
how this information might be roceiy.
ed. but representatives OF the miners
here still declared II would be no In
centive and that 1t would be ieAored,
especially In the central competitive
fields, embracing the states of Ohio,
Illinois. Indiana and western pennsyl-
vanilla. Operators however believe
that II will draw large numbers to
the mines and that next week will see
a big Increase In the daily soft coal
output.
DR.. Garfield had explained earlier
In the day that be- regarded II per
cent a just and sufficient wage adj
vance for mine workers and that mine
owners who did not pay II would find
their properties taken over and op-
Grated by the fuel administration.
John l.. Lewis. acting president of
the United Mine Workers of America,
who had borne the brunt of the wage
negotiation fight, went home last
night, Worn out hy the long wrangle
Before leaving for Indianapolis, Lewis
saw Secretary of Labor Wilson and
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor. He
did not have much TO say about the
AMI explained that he had
arranged with Gompers To have the
feieration's lawyers assist counsel for
the miners In perfecting their appeal
from the ruling of Federal Judge An
aerson, ordering the coal strike order
In labor and official circles the meet
ing of Lewis and Gompers was regard
ell as significant, but there was no
statement concerning questions dis
cuSsed except Lewis reference TO seek
ing counsel aid