New-York tribune., 1919-11-10
Injunction Against Work.
ers Is Denounced az So
'Autocratic as to Stag.
ger the Human Mind"
Appeal to Public
Sympathy Issued
y. S. Assurance Claimed
That Lever Act Would
Not Apply to Workers
Nerr York Tribune
Wash ngton Buredx

New York Tribune
Wash roton Bureau
WASHINGTON. Nov 9-Denouncinr
the coal strike injunction, but not di-
rectly advising that it be disobeved
the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor announced to- night
that the full support of organized labor
would be thrown tehind the striking
coal miners.
At the same time the executive board
and division presidents of the miners
organizations were gathering in Indian
apolis. and the indications there vera
that the leaders would decide to obey
the mandate of the Federal court and
withdraw the strike order.
The A. F. of L. committee, after it's
meeting here. which was held behind
closed doors and lasted seven hours.
issued statement holding the strike
justified" giving it unqua itied in
dorsement and assuring the United
Mine Workers of America of the imam
clal as we'll as moral support of organ
lied labor.
Writ Declared Unwarranted
The injunction proceedings OF the
government. and especially the order
granted yesterday Federal Judge
Anderson at Indianapolis directing the
strike leaders to call the strike off,
were declared to be unwarranted."
ine governments whole course in
nghtng the strike was attacked by
the labor council. The Lever act. upon
wnich the mandatory injunction was
based. was enacted, the council de-
ciared, with the EXPRESS understanding
That 1t should not apply to labor.
president Wilson, Food Administrats.'
Hoover and Attorney General Gregory
during the war specifically declared
that the act was not to apply to the
right Of labor to strike, the Labor
council added
The action of the executive counci;
OF tne federation removes the last pos
sloiilty OF a speedy settlement of the
strike. in the opinion of the labor lead
ers who conferred to-day. The Ameri-
can RECREATION Of Labor will give
hnahclal assistance to the strikers.
whose own funds are tied up by the
court Injunction, and, it is said here,
VIII support the mine workers officials
in lighting the order of Judge Ander-
son to bling the strike to an end ar
o'clock next Tuesday.
Organized Labor on Trial
The members of the executive coun-
eli OF the federation entered the con-
terence at 3 o'clock this afternoon
firm IN the belief that organized labor
was on trial in the miners strike and
with the firm intention of standing
back of the miners in fight against
the injunction
President Samuel Gompers of the
federation presided, and during the
meeting got in communication over
the telephone with Acting Presi-
dent John L. Lewis of the United
Mine Workers and discussed with him
plans for lighting the court order.
1t is regarded as certain in labor
circles here tonight that the order
will be disobeyed, and that in case the
strike leaders are taken into court on
a contempt charge the federation will
finance the legal action of the miners
officials in combating the order.
Those who attended the meeting in
addition to President Gompers, were
Secretary Frank Morrison, Treasurer
Daniel J. Tobin, Frank Duffy, W. d.
Mahon, T. A. Rickert, Jacob Fischer
and Matthew Woll.
Federation Defines Position
The statement Was issued over their
signatures. II follows:
The statement follows:
"The executive council Of the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor, called into
special session in the city of Washing
ton for the express purpose of con-
sidering the coal strike, the conditions
which brought on the strike, as we'll
as the court proceedings brought by
the government, submit to our fellow
70 fatl ~Eae r.
following statement:
"The executive council is of the
opinion that the officers of the United
Mine Workers of America did every
thing in their power to avert this great
industrial controversy. OF all the
great industries in our country, there
is none so dangerous to human life
as the coal industry. The men who
go down under the ground to dig coal,
so the domestic and Industrial needs
of the nation may be supplied, are en-
any other mp'oyment
due consideration has never been
given to the danger surrounding the
coal miners. There is no other class
of employment where each individual
worker is so isolated and in whose dis
tricts there is such lack of oppor-
tunity for social Intercourse and en-
joyment. The condition of the miner
and his family is such that he is prac-
tically deprived not only of sunshine
and resh air, but to a certain extent
he is deprived of the association and
companionship of all other human be-
ings outside Of his own particular class
who are themselves engaged in the
dangerous and unhealthy Occupation Of
coal mining.
Employment Declared Uncertain
"The miners suffer more than any
other workers from periods of compui-
sorry unemployment. Authentic statis-
tics show the miners have less than
200 days of employment during each
year. The wages of the miners, Sonse-
Quently, having to spread over the en-
tire year, are greatly reduced as a re-
suit of unemployment existing in
that industry.
"The high cost Of living has pre-
sented itself in perhaps a more serious
form in isolated mining eamps than II