The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-11-05
GOVERNMENT
TURNS Down
LABOR OFFER
Injunction Against Striking
Miners Cannot be Vacated,
Says J Judge Ames-ls Law
Violation.
MEANS FICHT-WALLACE
(By Associated Press)

WASHINGTON. Nov 5.-The gov
eminent cannot accept the proposal
Of organized labor TO end the coal
strike by vacating the injunction
against the officials Of the United
Mine Workers Of America. Assistant
Attorney-General Ames, in the absence
OF Attorney-General Palmer, anuounc-
ed today, that the government could
not abandon its position because the
strike was in violation of law.
Judge Ames issued the following
statement: The strike is a violation
OF law. AS long as it continues, we
are going to proceed in the course.
The dispute between the mine own
ers and workers is an entirely differ
ent question, that they can settle in
their own way. The government can
| not tolerate continued violation Of the
law such as this strike constitutes"
Refusal OF the government to va
| cate the injunction means a long fight
| in the coal fields. while its withdrawal
would have opened the way for set
| tlement Of the strike within 4S hours,
according to Edgar Wallace, legisla-
tive representative of the United Mine
Workers of America.
No Change in Prices.
There will be no change at present
| in maximum coal prices fixed by the
government, DR.. Garfield, fuel admin
| istrator, told a delegation of operators
If the strike lasts. readjustment of
prices may be necessary" he said
But there is nothing to talk about
| now
The operators had complained
that the maximum limits were pinch
; ing them. Mr. Garfield made it clear
that the government was acting in the
interests of the people as whole.
and that the nation must be protected
against few operators and dealers
who might be willing to take advan-
tage of the emergency.
Requests for federal troops to guard
the coal mines was made today by
Kentucky operators. who conferred
with Fuel Administrator Garfield
tThreats were made against the con-
tlnuance of operation, necessitating
protection to insure continued pro-
duction of coal, it was stated.
LEWIS WON'T COMMENT
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 5.-When in
formed of the statement of Judge
Ames. assistant Attorney-General Johu
l.. Lewis, acting president of the Unit
ed Mine Workers of America, said to-
day that he had no comment to make
My statement last night covers the
situation" MIR. Lewis said
/ With the exception of the work In
connection with preparation of their
respective cases for presentation to
the federal court next Saturday, neith
er the head of the United Mine Work
ers of America nor governmental
agents are active.
Statements issued yesterday by
Lewis. in which he reiterated the will.
ingness of the miners to resume nego
tiations with the operators at any time
the restraining order against union
heads is vacated, were interpreted to
indicate a hope on the part Of the
miners that the operators could be
Influenced to modify their stand
against further negotiations while the
strike continued. However, there
were no further developments along
this line and conciliation of the Cd
} orators and workers appeared remote
today.
No change was reported In the stu
, alton in the Indiana coal fields.