The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-10-30

he coal fields, but the strike order wa,
sent broadcast TO workers in other fields
where operators had been given on OPP
purtunity to even consider demands LOT
Increased wages or decreased hours. All
this has been done while the miners in
every field, through their right OF coll
lcCtivc bargaining had entered into
solemn contract with the operators, INK
ing wages and hours for definite period
which has not yet expired. The opera
tors upon the insistcnce OF tho prcsi-
dent. indicated their willingness TO ne
gotiate and arbtratc providing tho
strike is deferred. while the miners re-
jerted the presidents request for ar.
bitratIon as r. means OF settlement ana
refused to defer the strike.
Some Of the wage contracts were
made with the sanction Of the federal
government operating through the fuel
administration, to run during the COR
tinuation of the war or until April /,
1920. Many others however. run until
time still in the future without regard
for the continuation of the war.
war Not Ended
while il is perfectly plain that the
war Is slill on and any contract running
until ia conclusion is still in force.
whatever weight may he given TO tho
arEuAlrnt that the successful operation
Of the war no longer requires su"h con-
rur regard for the war period. TIL" arm
iS,iCc did not end IN" war ana IN"
courts III many cases have held that me
war emergency statutes are sun IN
furcr. the sam" rul" must apply 10 war
emergency contracts. The congress has
Mi dtu this position oS late as October
~. when on act of congress was approx
ed making even more effective Inc 1oou
and fuel control act.
"rhr SUSPENSION Of the restrictions as
10 tho prize" "f coal is not necessarily
permanent and cunllrions warrant re-
nrwal Of these r"striCtions al THIS time
and yet the government Il II relnslales
the order fixing maXImum price, Woulo
be absolutely HELPLESS I" protect IN" pco-
rle AGAINST CXorhl,ant prices Of the pro
duct il tho contracts mad" under its
sanction should now DO deliberately
broken. This does not mean !nat
chang" could not be ncEotiatcu an,
,itIrT a.rrcd upon or arbttratcd, II
rropcr protection of the public be ac-
corded in tho settlement, but II ooeS
mean that the public welfare IN the waI
time emergency must sun Dc !hc Tu LII
permanent interest to be served by pom
parties. TIL" government Is the protector
" u" Encct raralyztng.
"Thc proposed strike. If carried TO It's
logical conclusion. will paralyZe Trans
r"rialI"n ana industry. IL val I"pr'ro
,unnurlhcrr,! thousands Of men ~h" are
maxim au complaint about their en-
rl,,n,lt or rh'ir ri!:ht I" earn Il nFll-
L.fI f,r rh"r,lscly"s and their families:
Will uut cities N darkness anu. u COR
tjrurd n!v for few days will bring
Sold and hurrrr ~ millions OF our PEG,
plc: if continued for n month. II VIII
irlLn d,nth and starvation in its wake
II would he n NOR" deadly attack upon
the life # the nation than an invading
array. xo,
tr3l act. congress has recognized the
vital importance III the present circnm-
stances Cr maintaining production ana
dist: button Of the nrccSsaries OIL Ille
and has made il unlawful TOR any con-
ccrt"d action. agr""m"nt or 'n' hrFHnH
mont tn tho b" made by two or more
persons tn limit tho facilities OF trans
I0rtatiun and production. or TO restrict
th,, SUNNY md distribution OF fu"l. or 7"
aid and lh't tho doing "f any act having
this purpose or effect. Making S'Ilke
rff"ctivc under the circumstances when
] have described. amounts to such con-
Cericd action or arrangement.
Will Give Protection.
1T is the solemn duty of the depart
mint Of justice to enforce this statue.
We have enforced II in many cases. We
must continue tn do so irrespective OF
Tho prrsons involved in its violation. l
hone II will not b. necessary TO enforce
il in this case. Indeed. am hearing
from many sources that large numbers
Of tho miners themselves do not want TO
uui: work and will not do so II assured
Of the protection OF the govcrnment, ot
which they properly feel themselves
part
1T is probably unnecessary for me TO
SAY that such protection will everywhere
be givcn. so that mon may exercise their
undoubtcd right OF continuing to work
under such terms and conditions as they
shall SEQ fit. The facts present a situ-
alton which challenges the supremacy OF
the law and every resource OF the gov
crnmcnt would he brought TO bear 10
prevent the national disaster which
would inevitably result from the cessa-
tiun Of mining 0prratinns.'