Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-29
WARTIME CONTROL
|. OF FUEL POSSIBLE
FOR STRIKE CRISIS
DR.. Garfield, Called Here,
Confident of Settlement
Without a WaIkout.

Federal Fuel Administrator Harry A.
Garfield discussed the threatened
strike Of bituminous coal miners to-
day with Secretary Tumulty at the
White House. He was summoned here
from Williams College, Of which he is
president.
Dr. Garfield, who still has authority
to function as fuel administrator. said
he was in close touch with the strike
situation and expressed confidence
that a settlement would be reached
without a walkout of the miners.
Fuel Body May Function Again.
The fuel administrator would not
discuss his conference with Mr..
Tumulty, but his visit to the White
House resulted in the renewal of sug-
gestions that the fuel administration
might again be called into existence
to exercise the wartime control over
fuel provided for in the Lever food
control act.
While actively serving as admins
traitor. DR.. Garfield was instrumental
in bringing about the so-called Wash
ington wage agreement. which ex-
pires April 1, 1920, or at the end OF
the war, and which, it has been con-
tended, would be violated II the
miners walk out.
officials hopeful that the strike of
day. may yet be averted turned their
attention to Indianapolis. where the
executive board of the United Mine
Workers of America was called to
meet. While some officials were not
optimistic. in other quarters there
was evidenced a distinct feeling that
the miners answer to President VIII
sons appeal would be favorable.
Government Fully Prepared.
Should the executive board decide
adversely on the request OF the Presi-
dent that the strike be called on the
government, ~ was inaisatec AFTER
the situation was canvassed, WAS pre-
pared to deal with any situation that
might affse-
How to deal with the soft coal
President Wilson's command to stay
on the job. walk out Friday night.
was definitely agreed upon yesterday
at two-hour meeting of the cabinet.
The plan of action was not disclosed.
but it is known that the cabinet stood
as one man for protection of the
rights of the public, which would suf-
fer with the closing of the mines in
which ordinarily more than half a
million members of the United Mine
Workers OF America are employed.
Situation Not Hopeless.
But while steps already taken and
which might be regarded as drastic
were approved, Secretary Lansing. who
presided, brought word from the meet
ing that the situation was not hope
less.
All day the belief had grown that
the international executive board, at
its meeting tomorrow at Indianapolis.
would postpone the strike, at least.
Hope was expressed in some quarters
that the strike would be called on
by the man who had called it, but
officials declined to say whether this
was based upon information purport-
ing to convey some idea as to the
attitude of the unions.
1.-The government is ready for the
worst. but is hoping the worst will
not happen, firm in the belief that the
miners will respond periodically to
the Presidents appeal and keep the
mines running while negotiating a
new wage agreement was the sum-
ming-up last night Of a government
official in touch with the situation.
Everything depends on what is done
at Indianapolis"