Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-11-03
Confidential Reports Sent to
Palmer and Associates Show
Tendency in Some Districts
to Call Off the Strike.
ATTORNEY GENERAL is
CHEERED BY OUTLOOK
Industrial Commission to Deal
Broadly With Present Tur-
bulent Conditions Suggested
by Railroad Brotherhood.

Washington, Nov. 2.-Immediats
steps for assembling at Washington
of an industrial commission to deal
broadly with present turbulent con-
ditions, was suggested today by the
advisory board of the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers.
Deploring attempt at government
by injunction" as means of set
ting the coal strike, the board
speaking for $4,000 members, de-
clared injunction proceedings would
make conditions worse "and defer
if not defeat, a peaceful settlement
The board stood out for an in
dustrial commission that would
recognize the rights of all citizens
and not be pledged to oppose collec-
lively bargaining"
It's statement, the only formal one
bearing on the strike issued here
during the day, was considered di-
rect outgrowth of the miners walk
out and was prepared after full and
careful consideration of all ques-
tions leading up to the break be-
tween operators and mine workers.
The governments next move in
the effort to keep the country sup
piled with fuel will depend upon
what happens in the coal fields to-
morrow.
cheered by Reports.
Attorney General Palmer and his
associates. were cheered today by
confidential reports, which we're said
to show tendency in some dis
tricts, to call off the strike. Some
locals were asserted to be making
efforts to this end. In other places,
however, the miners were reported
apparently determined to stay out
until their demands were granted
In general way the confidential
reports were along the same lines
as press dispatches, showing that
the union miners, almost to man,
had quit, while in the nonunion
mines work went on without ap-
parent interruption.
With all strike benefits cut off by
the court, officials believe the min
ers, or a large number of them, will
go back to work, provided they are
not urged to stay out and are not
swayed by agitators.
Profiteers to Suffer.
The Department of Justice is just
as determined to arrest and prose-
cute to the limit coal dealers who
take advantage of critical times to
profiteer as it is to deal with repre-
sentatives of the radical element
who try to stir up trouble among
the miners.
This determine ton was reflected
in correspondence, made public to-
day in which Attorney General Pal
mer administered sharp rebuke to
w. A. Marshall, president Of the
Wholesale Coal Trade association
of New York, who protested against
any interference by the government
with coal prices or supplies. Mr..
Palmer declared the government
was acting solely for the benefit OF
the public and that the coal dealers
ought to be willing to cooperate i'll
such a national emergency even to
the extent of sacrificing profits" =
Some officials said tonight that it
might not be possible to size up the
situation for several days, but the
general belief was that the next 4S
hours would disclose "back-to-the-
mines" tendency openly confirming
the confidential reports.
Delegation Sees Palmer.
Warren S. Stone, grand chief OF
the Brotherhood of Locomotive En-
gineers, which suggested the as
sembling of an industrial commits
sion, headed delegation which saw
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