The sun., 1919-10-30
MEN WILLQUIT
FRIDAY NIGHT,
LEADERS
Twenty-Five District Presi-
dents Contend Strike Is
Their Only Weapon.
INJUNCTIONs NOT FEARED
Assert That Order Has Gone
Out and That 1t Cannot
Be Recalled.
By a star Correspondent Of THE Sun


INDIANAPOLIS. Oct. 2s.-The United
Mine Workers OF America have defied
both the Government and public senti-
ment. They decided to-day that the
rs per cent. of the bituminous coal
production of the country. which they
control, will cease on Friday at mid
night. The conference of union head
dissolved tonight and the participant.
departed for their homes.
"A canvass of the entire situation
shows that a strike OF bituminous
miners cannot be avoided" says the
statement issued tonight at the end
Of a meeting attended by the execu-
tive committee of the union, the scale
committee of the Central competitive
district and twenty-five district presi-
dents.
This statement takes issue with
President Wilson, asserts that the
strike is the cnly method by which
the men can assure consideration for
their grievances, lays the blame for
the strike on the operators, indicates
that the miners already have taken
steps to forestall action in the courts
to prevent the strike and says the
strike will end only when the oper-
ators reach an agreement with the
United Mine Workers.
Says Issae Has Been Made,
"The issue has been made" the
statement concludes. "and IL 1t must
be settled upon the field OF industrial
battle the responsibility rests fairly
and squarely upon the coal barons
alone"
The interests of the public were not
considered fo- a moment In the course of
The long day OF meeting. Not single
voice was raised in Justification OF Presi-
1ent Wilson's appeal. Every expression
ef opinion OIL the floor of the meeting
was to the effect that the miners had
he situation IN hand and that they must
str Ike TO gain their own ends. This stu
alton was reflected after the meet ng by
william Green, secretary-treasurer of
he union.
1T can't be long strike. How can
I be7' ne said with a grin.
The helplessness OF the coal industry
In the hands Of the strikers was con-
;eded by the operators to-day.
1T will mean that we will have to
'lose," said William Batty OF the Ogle
Coal Company. representing the opera
ore In Ind annapolis and one OF the
largest miners in the district. Coal
mining is an expert Job. They have the
experts in the union. Whatever substi- !
utes might be brought into the mines II |
will mean that the production can be |
,ut Insignificant
l. Ert Slack, Tn ted States Attorney, !
n response TO instructions from WASH |
igton, made an appointment this after /
loon with United States Judge Albert b. |
Harrison fo- special Deputy Attorney |
General Ames. who is on his way here :
rom Washington. Other than to say /
hat the visit was in connection with the |
,oal strike situation, Mr.. Slack said he !
lid not know what steps Washington |
Order Already in Eject.
officials OF the miners union seem not |
1t all concerned with this news. They !
say they have taken steps "to forestall !
;ourt action" While they will not state !
what these steps are, II Is presumed that /
hey are constituting the strike order as |
,lready automatically in effect and be- !
ieve that no matter how closely the |
lnion leaders may be enjoined, such an |
Injunction will be ineffective unless It Is |
ssued against the $4,000 individual |
men who already are subject to the |
strike order. though not actually on |
strike. Their statement tonight indi- |
,ates this line of reasoning among |
hem. They say they cannot be inter
'ered with In their constitutional right !
o quit work either individually OF coll |
II is not believed that the Fed |
.ral authorities will attempt such an in /
but rather will seek 1t on the |
grounds that the miners are about to |
break their wage contract
1t is such an injunction that the |
miners believe they can avoid by the
act that the order Is already In effec8. |
md that 1t physically will be Impossible |
o serve all the Individual men with the |
'equisite number of injunctions and |
impossible to round them up |
md arrest them for contempt of court
Ihou,d they violate them II served.
II don't see what can be done" COM
essed a big operator tonight THE
,nly measure that would be effective
would be to surround the mining COM
nunities and throw them into a state of
iege without any food supplies"
Operators Meet Tomorrow.
The operators are to meet In Cleye-
and on Friday, according TO word re-
eived tonight by local representatives
N the committee here. Neither the
miners nor the operators expect the
Continued On FUtA Pa9s