The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-11-05
PRIORITY ASKED

Il be called"
PRIORITY ASKED
The rail commission yester-
day wired Max Thielan, director
for the United States rail admin
istration, asking that priority
be given to state institutions in
the distribution of fuel in North
Dakota, inasmuch as the state
has no federal institutions and
no railways which consume ma
tive coal. In the original order
of the federal administration
government institutions and
railway consumers were given
priority over state institutions,
which were awarded third place.
The North Dakota railway ad-
ministration has not as yet
taken any direct action to op-
pose the governments plan Of
allocating fuel from this state,
if it sees fit, to other states.
Railway Commissioner Milhol-
Ian, who made the statement
that the North Dakota commits
sion would resist, appears to
have spoken for himself in this
matter, as he is the only mem,
Der Of the commission who is in
the city, and no meeting of the
board has been held to discuss
this subject.
Commenting upon the COVER
nor's order, an official of the
board this morning expressed
doubt as to the constitutionality
of the federal administrations
act and declared his belief that
it would not stand up if attacked
in the United States courts.
Coal operators will gather
here this afternoon for a confer
ence among themselves to pre-
cede tomorrow's session with the
governor and brennan.
Using Governor Frazier as the "go-
between,' Henry brennan, president
of the twenty-seventh district Of the
United Mine Workers of America, on
Tuesday evening presented a number
of Ignite coal operators of North Da-
kota with a demand for a fiat increase
of sixty percent in the wages of soft
coal miners of the state
Ignoring entirely the agreement be-
tween the miners and the operators
which does not expire until September
80, 1920, brennan laid his cards on the
table last night. after an all afternoon
session in the governors chambers at
the capitol. Take it or I will call
a strike" was. in effect, the miners
representatives. ultimatum.
OPERATORS IN DARK
The operators came to Bismarck at
the request of Governor Frazier. The
purpose of the meeting was unknown
to any of them. Frazier had been in
session with brennan last week and
heard Drennan's side Of the story.
Yesterday the governor had the oper-
ators in session. After the stage was
set, brennan was asked to tell the Op-
orators what he wanted.
In a very few words, brennan said
he wanted sixty percent increase and
that he was going to get it or there
would be strike. Asked whether
the federal court injunction would
have any effect on him. brennan said,
according to one operator at the ses-
sion, IF l am restrained, or arrested.
tie miners will know what to do.
Which means that your mines will be
closed, and closed tight
PUBIC NOT ADMITTED
Unfortunately for the public, the
press is not admitted to the governors
session. brennan has refused and still
refuses to make any announcements,
ether than Nothing decided yet" The
cCal operators are not talkative, and
the truth Of what transpires behind
the closed doors of the governors Of
hce must be cleaned by continual
questioning
III siDStduCe. dlleI muCu qucStloH-
ing and listening to operators, coal
dealers and others discuss the matter
the situation in North Dakota on the
strike Of soft coal miners is approxi-
mately as follows:
DISTRICT ORIGINALLY EXEMPT
When the nation wide strike was
called, the 9th district Of the United
Mine Workers was not included be-
cause of an agreement here between
miners and Ignite mine-owners which
did not expire until September 30, 1920
The decision as to whether North Da-
kota miners were. to strike or not was