The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-10
STRIKE 0. KID
BY FEDERATION
Coal Situation Assumes Every
Aspect Of Figrt
to Finish.
ENDORSEMENT ISSUED
By Executive Council Eneour
: ages by Promising Support
of All Unionists.

Washington, Nov. 1o.-4U. N. So
The coal strike situation today as
sumed every aspect of a fight to the
finish.
With the executive council of the
American Federation of Labor de-
nouncing the governments course in
the strike situation and calling upon
the public to fight theA "autocratic"
procedure, the situation today came
perilously near being one of organized
labor against government. -
administration officials today were
stunned by the carefully worded
challenge OF the executive council of
the American Federation of Labor,
but calmly decided to wait until the
United Mine Workers of America
have decided whether they shall abide
by the courts decree and call off the
kstrike or whether they shall defy the
courts and the government.
The administration will take no
st-ps until after Tuesday night. but
there was every indication today that
Atty.-Gen. Palmer will pursue the
course laid out by the cabinet. for to
let down now would be an ackpowI
edgment that the government has
been wrong and willing to acknowl-
edge an injustice done to the miners
The carefully worded statement of
the executive council of the American
Federation of Labor still leaves the
way clear for the strike leaders to
obey the courts order, but 1t encour-
ages contest by promising the sup
9ort of all labor. !.
Attitude Set Forth. :
The attitude of labor is set forth in
these paragraphs of the declaration:
I'VE declare that the proceed
ings in this case are unwarranted,
as they are unparalleled in the
history of our country, and we
declare that it is an injustice
which not only the workers, but
all libertyloving Americans, will
repudiate and demand redress.
The citizenship of our country
cannot afford to permit the estab-
lishment or maintenance of
principle which strikes at the
very foundation of justice and
freedom. To restore the conf
.dence in the institutions of our
country and the respect due the
courts. this injunction should be
withdrawn and the records
" cleansed from so outrageous a
proceeding.
by all facts in the case the
miners strike is justified. We
indorse it. We are convinced
of the justice of the miners
rNlo - LA
the full support of the American
Federation of Labor and appeal
to the wor'zc,s and citizens of our
country to give like Endorsement
and aid to the men engaged in
this momentous struggle"
This statement, arrived at after
lengthy proceedings by the labor
leaders, came as total surprise to
official Washington, for it had been
expected that the executive council of
the American Federation of Labor
was in session in an attempt to de-
wise a way out, that the strike order
might be rescinded and that the min
ers might have their demands at least
partially satisfied.
Gompers Voted Down.
Samuel Gompers gave every indi-
cation last week that he was most de-
slrous that organized labor should
evade this crisisan that an amtcable
settlement be reached out of court.
y Gompers, in his conference with
Atty.-Gen. Palmer indicated that the
American Federation of Labor was
endeavoring to arrange Il proposition
which might satisfy the miners, the
operators and the government and af-
ford solution for the whole situa-
ton. The result of the meeting of the
executive council again brought rn-
mors of struggle within the fedora
ton of labor, which took place prior
to the steel strike, with Samuel Com
pers and the conservative leact rs tax
ing a strong stand for upholding the
law, but being voted down by those
who are anxious for a showdown as
to the strength of organized labor.
The appeal for public support of the
coal strike will bear little weight, in
the belief of officials here. They, de-
clare that the thousands of telegrams
which-are pouring in to cabinet Off
Gals indicate that the public is behind
the government in its case. In an
swer to the charges that the vast ma
jority of the public does not resort to
the sending of kilograms to govern
ment officials, it was pointed out that
the house of representatives, by a
unanimous vote had pledged its sup
port to the administration, and the
house generally votes in accordance
with the sentiment of the'folks back
home"
To Protect Public.
The efforts of the fuel administra-
ton and the railroad administrati<-
to conserve coal will go on, and the
will take every step to
protect the public from the suffering
that is bound to come with continue
ton of the-coal strike.
COMING HOME SOON