Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-11-05
TERMS COAL STRIKE
Law VIOLATION IN
ANSWER TO MINER,
Washington Nov 5.-The government cam
not accept the proposal of organized labor to end
the coal strike by vacating the injunction against

AiS IiiN III uAlIlACAI against
the officials of the United
Mine Workers of Amer
ica, Assistant Attorney
General Ames in the absence Of A.
torney General Palmer announced to-
day that the government could not
abandon its position adopted last
week at Indianapolis, on the grounds
that the strike was in violation of the
/ law.
Judge Ames issued the following
! statement;
| AS long as ii continues we are going
! to proceed in the courts. The dispute
between mine owners and workers Is
an entirely different question that
they can settle in their own way. The
! government cannot tolerate continued
violation of the law such as this strike
! involves"
Refusal OF the government to vacate
! the injunction means a long fight IN
the coal fields while its withdrawal
would have opened the way for set
! tlemeDt Of the strike within forty
eigh. hours. according to Edgar Wal.
| lace, legislative representative Of the
| United Mine Workers of America.
IF the Injunction We're withdrawn
the scale committee representing the
minters and operators could get to-
| gether in twenty -four hours and settle
~, Il. Va
lace said. The strike however. would
not be called off until a new wage
agreement was reached The miners
committee with power to accept the
new agreement could call off the
strike without referring the question
! to a delegate convention" Wallace
said.
president Lewis statement that
the miners would be willing TO negO-
tiate without reservations" he added,
simply means that he would start
with "A new slate without regard to
previous demands. which the opera
tors refused to grant
These demands We're a five-day
week. SIX hOur DAY ana wage in
crease OF 90 per cent. Wallace ex-
planned, however, that they were not
arbitrary but were put forward as
Dasls OF negotiation
Labor leaders here VINO have taken
IA hopeful view OF the strike situation
after hearing ol Samuel Gompers sug-
gestiOn for settlement. were plainly
disturbed by tle news that the Depart
ment OF Justice would let the injunc-
ticn stand All agreed that ii would
keep the stllke gong for some time.
his also was the view OF operators
Representatives OF the mine worke-
erS counting hopefully, on the early
cad OF court proceedings were figur-
ing On actual tests to adjust differ
ences at scale COMMITTEES meetings.
In view OF the intention of the attOr-
ney general not to ask Tor vacation OF
the Injunction, labor leaders said
there was no likelihood OF any import
ant move before the lnJunctlOn came
up IOr hearing at Indianapolis Sat
urday.
Confidential reports today to the
Department of Justice laid that rity
per cent more men WORKED in the coal
mines in Colorado yesterday than the
day before A number Of mines were
Sdli W be lullulls iuil lOItH.
See Hope for Arbitration.
Springfield, ILL.,, Nov. The seem.
ing disposition OF high Officials of the
Lnted Mine Workers of America to
enter into wage negotiations with op-
orators as suggested by President
samuel GOmpers OF the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor was being watched
by Illinois strike leaders today as a
possible means of ending the tie.up.
Meanwhile Illinois miners were idle
ana giving evidence OF entire satls1ac-
tion with the standpat attitude OF
their Officials who are demanding that
any negotiations be without reserva-
tions' as enunciated by John l.. Lewis,
head of the miners national organiza.
ton
rank harrington, chairman of the
miners scale committee as we'll aS
president of the Illinois district reply.
Ing last night to Mr.. Gompers sugges.
tion that the wage conferences might
follow vacation OF the strike injunc-
ticn said that the miners were ready
from the first to negotiate provided
the operators would come in with
clean hands" That the restraining
order must ne withdrawn IN any event
( before negotiations could begin, was
the declaration OF Harrington.
With the fifth day Of the strike
( there We're indications that the pinch
of a fuel famine is not far distant. in
formation received through state
! sources said many public utility con-
! Germs were without reserve supplies OF
| Continued on uaHe ! coiumn Al