The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-11-15
No Agreement Reached at Morn
ing Session of Mine
Officials
WILL THEY DEFY THE
ORDER OF u. S. COURT
Some of the Union Officials ON
Record in Favor of Defying
Mandate of Court

MaIlUdC6 Ol COUTC
indianapolis. Nov. 1O.-No agree
neii: had been reached by officials OF
tha s':llted Mine Workers Of America
in conference here today tc consider
the order of the Federal Court Satur-
day to call off the strike of the coal
| miners, when they adjourned 1t 8
O'clock this evening. Delegates Said
no ,:ct~ had bean taken.
The union heads. who include inter
national officers, district presidents 'ni:l
m enbers of the executive board and
scale committee, resumed their dellb-
erations at 7:30 tonight, but it was
the general belief that no formal ac-
ton would be taken before tomorrow.
IN view of the provision OF the court
order, instructinS the miners chiefs to
present to the court for approval their
order withdrawing the strike call OF
Oct. Is within 72 hours it was pre-
dicted tonight trat no announcement
would be made by the miners before
the expiration o. the same. The court
order was signed at 1925 p. m. Sat
urday, therefore the union officials
must report to he court by that time
tom orrow.
Although today's meeting was clos
ed and extraordinary measures Wire
taken to prevent the proceedings from
becoming public. it was ascertalned
! from disconnected remarks dropped.
by delegates as they left the hall for
rI Il Eicc11cciOn
brought out wide divergence OF opin
| ion as 20 what course the coal workers
| should pursue with regard to the or
der of the court.
Alexander Howat, president Of the
Kansas district, remarked to Frank
harrington, president Of the Illinois
district, as they passed newsna pc:
men:
That was a good speech you made
Frank. I agree with it fully
Mr.. Howat, before leaving Kansas
for the conference here. gave out a
statement in which he declared that
regardless of injunction, prisons and
Judges. he intended to fight.
1T isn't question OF going to jail.
These, men have no fear Of that. What
they are debatin- is the welfare Of the
United Mine Workers as affected oy
, the court order requiring the strike
order TO be rescinded. They are de-
batting. too. whether they should take
position that would be stand
against the attitude Of the federal gov
ernment.'
John L. Lewis, acting president of
the mine workers. at the close Of the
session today, said:
I'VE haven't a thing to give outl at
this time
Other officials and delegates adopt
ed the same attitude.
There was evaIv indication that the
majority Of the mine workers are de-
termined to weigh carefully all phases
of the issue before taking any steps
toward disobedience of the strike or
der Most of the delegates are men
past middle age and their denieanor in
passing to and fro from the conven-
ton hall indicated that they were CIV
ing careful consideration to the argu-
ment.
The only action Of he government
today in connection with tie strike
was the serving Of 3S copies OF the
temporary injunction issued Saturday.
Those served were men whom federal
agents failed to reach with the origi-
nal restraining order. The wlits
served are returnable December /. in
stead OF November 20, the date on
which the original orders are return
able.
At 1890 o'clock tonight delegates
intercepted in the corridors adjoining
the convention hall said that the
miners general committee expected 10
stay in continuous session until some
decision was reached and one man
predicted that this would not occur
before q a. m. II was stated. however.
that should the delegates agree it was
no. likely any statement would be
made before tomorrow.