The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-11-13
OBEY THE LAW,U. S.
WARNS COAL MINERS
Government Stands Firm in the
Strike Crisis.
NATION is ABOVE UNIONS
Palmer Picks Up A, r. of L. Gauntlet
in the Mine CIash--Workers Must
Heed the Courts Order to
End the Walkout.


Washington, Nov. 11.-Government
officials declared that the American
Federation of Labor will not be suf-
fered to dictate the governments pol
Icy in the coal strike.
The governments answer to the
statement issued by the executive
council of the American Federation of
Labor endorsing the strike and pledg-
ing support to the miners was stated
by Attorney General Palmer in these
words:
THE government is no respector of
persons In the enforcement of the law.
Those who conceive that the resou-
tons of convention or the orders of
the officers of any organization in the
country. whether labor organizations
or any other, are superior In author
lily to the law Of the land, will find
themselves mistaken"
Cabinet officers and other high Off
Gals of the government declared that
"this is no time to get cold feet and
said:
"1'he situation is in the hands of
the court. The sovereignty of Amer
lea must be upheld
Palmer Issues Statement
Attorney General Palmer issued
statement relteratng the determine
ton of the government to stand fast
ia its position in the coal strike. The
statement is in answer to a statement
by the American Federation of Labor
denouncng the governments attitude.
In his statement Mr.. Palmer de-
ciares that the government will not
brook the attempt of any group to die
tate its policy in the present crisis.
The statement follows:
The coal strike is a plain viola
ton Of federal statute. This has
been the governments position from
the start The president declared 1t
10 be unlawful and the court after
full hearing. has now declared 1t TO
he unlawful.
"AlI that | can say is that the law
will be enforced. This same law has
been enforced many times and the de-
purtment Of justice has other cases
now pending which were brought I'M
der 1t. The merits of the controversy
between the operators and the miners
are not involved in the court proceed
iugS ut Indianapolis. Neither is the
right 10 strike involved.
Labors Rights Untouched.
Nothing that the government has
done Is intended or designed to have
any effect upon the recognized right
Of labor to organize, to bargain col
lectively through Its unions, and, I'M
der ordinary industrial conditions to
walk out by concerted action.
The proposal by the president of
peaceful settlement of the matters
ut issue between operators and the
miners through negotiations or arbi-
tration was rejected and the govern
ment. therefore, faced the alternative
Of submitting to the demands Of a
single group to the irreparable injury
of the whole people. or Of challenging
the assertion by that group of power
greater than the government itself.
Confronted with such choice, the
governments duty was perfectly clear.
It refused to surrender to the dicta-
ton of group and 1t proposes to as
sert its power TO protect itself and the
people whom 1t Is designed to serve.
The government is no respector OF
persons in the enforcement of the law.
Those who conceive that the resolu-
tiOns of conv ention or the orders Of
Rha ..fft ofo nj 1ot Ion In fha
country. whether labor organizations
or any otner, are superior In authority
to the law Of the land, will find them
selves mistaken.
al assume that the order Of the
court will be obeyed. The presidents
offer for peaceful settlement Is still
open and | hope that the miners and
operators viii now get together and
settle their controversy"
Lever Takes Issue With Labor
The one section In the American
Federation of Labor's statement
which caused the greatest discussion
was that which charged that when the
Lever Act was passed there was a spe-
cifc understanding that 1t was not to
he applied to labor.
Search Of the records and CORE
spOndence at the attorney generals Of
fee revealed no papers substantial
ing the charge made by the executive
council Of the American Federation
of Labor In its statement
Asbury f. Lever. author Of the
sct fook issue with tho statement of
the executive council. Mr.. Lever de-
ciared that there was no such under
standing at the time the act was
passed. and said further that. In his
opinion the act of Judge Anderson
ordering the miners leaders to resclnd
the strike order was absolutely in line
with the will of congress as expressed