Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-01
INJUNCTION Will
PRODUCE NEW AND
MORE Disturbing
ISSUES GOMPE ER5
a. F, of |, Chieftain IntimateS
y. That Granting of Injunction
~ ay Cause Dissatisfaction
Ather Ranks,
MINERS FIGHT FOR NEW
CONTRACT Is REVIEWED
InsinuateS That Operators De-
iberateIy SChemed to Cut
Output and Thus Manage to
Maintain High Prices,

MAINTAIN f1l9l rllC6S,
! tsv MORNING JOURNAL spse,al LEASED w,ssl
Washington, Oct. 31.-Samuel
/ Gompers speaking tonight for or
ganized labor, declared the injunction
In the coal strike case "can only re-
! suit in creating new and more dis
turbing issues which may not be con-
fined solely TO the miners"
The statement. issued Jointly by Mr.
| Gompers, Vice President Woll and
Secretary Morrison, of the federation,
after they had protested to Attorney
General Palmer against the action OF
! the federal court at Indianapolis, fol-
! lows:
Throughout the period of the war
and during the nations time of stress
the miners of America labored pa
tiently, patriotically and arduously in
order that the principles of freedom
and democracy might triumph over
the forces of arbitrary authority, die
tatorship and despotism,
| Miners Paradoxical Position.
when armed hostilities ceased last
| November the miners found them
selves in the paradOxicaI position
where their intensive labors were be-
| ing used to further enrich the owners
of coal mines and merchants dealing
in coal by the immediate reduction Of
| the mining of the coal OF course the
mine owners readily conceived that an
| over abundance of mined coal would
seriously disturb the high prices of
| coal and endanger their large margin
of profits.
| "On the other hand the miners
found that with the constantly rising
cost Of necessities of life and with
their income reduced over so per cent
! because of idleness that they had
reached the limit of human endur-
ance. Orderly and improved pro-
cesses We're invoked to negotiate a
rev understanding with the mine
| owners and which would enable the
miners to work AZ least five days DUR
| ing each week throughout the entire
year and allow them a wage sufficient
to enable them to live in decency and
! free from many of the pressing un-
certainties of life
Crafty Mine Operators.
| In attempting to negotiate this
rev understanding and relation, the
/ miners found that their plea for con-
| tinuous employment would destroy
| the mine owners arrangement TO cur
| tail the mining Of coal so as to con-
| tinue exploiting the public with high
ana eX0fDltant prices.
The mine owners very cleyerly
met the issue by appearing willing
and anxious to negotiate, but only IL
the miners would first throw aside
the only power at their command to
gain a respectful hearing and fair
consideration---the decision to strike
whenever it was determined fair deal
ings did not prevail.
Strike of Vast Magnitude,
I'VE are now faced with a coal
strike of vast magnitude. The govern
ment now proposes to intervene be-
cause of possible coal short
age. Apparently the government is
not concerned with the manipulation
by the mine owners which has made
for present coal shortage and undue
unemployment of the coal miners for
the past eleven months Instead of
dealing with those responsible for this
grave menace to the public welfare,
it now proposes to punish those who
by force of circumstances have been
the victims of the coal barons' ex-
ploitations The miners are now told
the war is not over and that all war
legislation is still in effect and If re-
ports received here are correct, the
government intends to employ exist
ing war measures, not against the
owners of the coal mines, but against
the coal miners The government has
taken steps to enforce war measures
by an injunction and it has restrained
the officials of the United Mine
Workers from eounselling, aiding or
in any way assisting the members of
this organization for relief against
grievous conditions of life and em-
ployment
Supprcssing Own People.
1T is almost inconceivable that
government, which is proud of its
participation in a great war to liber-
ate suppressed peoples, should now
undertake TO suppress the legitimate
aims, hopes and aspirations of a group
of its own people. 1t is still more
strange that nation which may justly
be proud of it's Abraham Lincoln
should now reverse the application of
the greatest truth he enuncated, when
he said that as between capital and la
Dor, labor should receive first and
foremost consideration.
"The injunction against the United
Mine Workers BODIES for Ill, An in
junction of this nature will not pre-
vent the strike--it will not fill the
empty stomachs of the miners--it may
restrain sane leadership, but win give
added strength to unwise counsel and
increase bitterness and friction.
Results of an Injunction.
This Injunction can only result in
creating new and more disturbing is
sues which may not be confined solely
to the miners These views were pre-
sented to Attorney General Palmer in
a conference this afternoon lasting
nearly two hours by President Com
pers, Secretary Morrison and Vice
President VOL. of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor"