Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-11-16
Promised in Connection With
Government Injunction Pro-
ceedings Against United Mine
Workers of America.
FEDERAL AGENTS BUSY
COLLECTING EVIDENCE
Indiana Public Service CON-
mission Issues Drastic Or
ders for Curtai|ment of Fuel
Consumption in State.

Indianapolis, Noy. 15.-Probabili-
ty Of arrests in connection with the
governments Injunction proceed
ings against the United Mine Work
ers of America and the assurance
of drastic orders by the Indiana
Public Service commission for the
curtailment Of fuel consumption in
the state, were the outstanding fea
lures in the coal situation here to-
day.
In connection with the probable
arrests it was learned that federal
agents are gathering evidence OF
reported violation of the injunction
with a view to preferring charges
of contempt of court against men,
bers of the United Mine Workers
of America. According to infor-
nation received by these agents,
meetings have been held in diff
ferent sections OF the country at
which the miners voted not to re-
turn to work even though the
strike order had been rescinded by
international officials of the union.
Violation of Lever Act. &
This action. it was pointed out, con-
stitutes a violation of the Lever
act. for. as interpreted by federal
Judge A. B. Anderson, any two
miners who agree not to return to
work would be guilty of conspiracy
to curtail production of fuel. 1t al
so was reported that some of the
leaders against whom the injunc-
ton was specifically directed had
attended the meetings.
In addition to this information it
has been reported that petitions
Fave been circulated among the
miners for signatures to state
ment agteeing not to obey the
order resembling the strike. This. it
was stated. would constitute an ex-
press violation of the injunction,
intended to prevent any action to
encourage the strike.
Can't Get Together.
Washington, Nov. 1S.-Coal min
ers and operators meeting today
could not unite upon the proposal
of Secretary Wilson to negotiate d
nationwide agreement. but did unite
upon a plan to negotiate an agree
ment covering the mines in the CEN
tral competitive field of western
Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio and
Illinois. ...
Meanwhile the mine owners of the
outlying fields went into separate
conference to determine how far the
central territory's scale agreement
if negotiated, would serve as basis
for agreements in their respective
fields. ...
One Stormy Session.
The decision came after a stormy
morning of the joint session of
operators and miners representatives
called by Secretary Wilson in which
John L. Wilson, acting president OF
the mine workers, exchanged
charges of bad faith with several
spokesmen for the operators. F. w.
Lukins. speaking for the operators,
in outlying fields, presented Their
refusal to comply with Secretary
Wilson's proposal for a national
agreement on the ground that its
negotie ton would take time that
! could moi be granted in view of the
need for coal President Lewis,
having acc, ed Mr.. Wilson's plan,
scored the operators for refusal. Sec
retary Wilson then advanced an al
tentative suggestion for a wage
scale negotiation in the central
fields, which finally was accepted.
Conference Breaks Up.
Representatives of miners in the
outlying fields contended they were
entitled to representation in any ne
| gotiations regarding the central
field, since this would be used in
ev,tably as a basis for their contracts
! and the operators at Secretary Will
sons request agreed to consider a
possible course and the joint con-
ference broke up.
| At the wage scale committee con.
ference with the operators the nin-
| ers' leaders presented again their de-
mands made originally at the But
faio conference, consisting of a 6C
per cent increase in wages, FIVE
day week and a six-hour day. The
operators then decided to confer
among themselves and the confer
ence adjourned until Monday.
!
Banker Higginson Dies.
| Roeton Nov ISM,i Henry I