The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-06

Springfield, Ill, Nov. 5.-The seem
ing disposition OF high officials OF the
!. United Mine Workers OF America to
enter into wage negotiations with
operators, as suggested by President
Samuel Gompers, of the American
Federation of Labor, was being watch
ed by Illinois strike leaders today as
q possible means Of ending the tie-up.
With the fifth day OF the strike
there are indications that the pinch OF
q fuel famine is no far distant. In
formation received through state
sources said many public utility con-
Germs were without reserve supplies
OF coal.
slump in railroad freight tonnage
resulting from the strike has caused
rigid curtailment of freight train
crews throughout Illinois. reports re-
ceived here Indicated.
Washington. Nov. 5.-Judge .Ames
issued the following statement:
The strike is a violation OF law.
AS long as it continues. we are going
to proceed in the courts. The dispute
between the mine owners and workers
is an entirely different question that
they can settle in their own way. The
government cannot tolerate continued
violation of law such as this strike
constitutes"
The refusal or the government to
vacate the injunction means q long
fight in the coal fields, while its with
drawal would have opened the way
for settlement of the strike within
4s hours. according to Edgar Wallace,
legislative representative of the Uni
ted Mine Workers of America.
IF the injunction was Withdrawn
the scale committees representing
miners and operators could get to-
gether in "a hours and settle their
differences at one sitting" Wallace
said. ''The strike, however. would not
be called off until a new wage agree
ment was reached"
The miners committee. with power
to accept the new agreement, could
call off the strike without referring
the question to delegate convention,
Wallace said.
President Lewis statement that the
miners would be willing to negotiate
without reservations he added, sim
ply means that we would start with a
new slate. without regard to previous
demands. which the operators refused
to grant
These demands were a five-day
week, a six hour day. and wage in
crease of 60 per cent. Wallace ex-
planned. however. they were not arbi-
trary, but were put forward as a basis
for negotiation.
Labor leaders here take a hopeful
view of the strike situation after hear
Ing of Samuel Gompers. suggestion
for a settlement. were plainly dis
turbed by the news that the depart
ment Of justice would let the injunc-
ion stand. All agreed it would keep
the strike going for some time. This
also was the view OF the operators.
Representatives OF the mine work
ers. counting hopefully on the early
end OF court proceedings. were figur-
ing on actual steps to adjust differ
ences at scale committee meetings. As
indicating the desire for peace. the
miners agents thought it would be un-
necessary for the joint conference to
be held under the auspices of the de-
partmnt of labor, their idea being that
the two sides could meet exactly as
they did at Buffalo and Philadelphia
before rejection of demands led TO
issuance of the strike order.
In view of the intention OF the at
torney general not to ask for vaca-
ton of the injunction, labor leaders
said there was no likelihood of any
important move before the Injunction
case came up for hearing at Indian
apolis Saturday.