The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-10-30
REVIVAL Of FUEL
ADMINISTRATION
NOT NECESSARY
Garfield So Advises Presidents
Cabinet Today
MAY CURTAIL COAL USING
Ample Police or Other Protection for
Miners Willing to Stay on
Job

Washington, Oct. 30.-An executive
order restoring maximum coal prices
will be issued by President Wilson
probably today. Officials would not
say what the maximum price would
be.
Revival of the Fuel AdministTat
ion to deal with conditions growing
out of the coal strike is not necessary,
Fuel Administrator Garfield advised
the Presidents cabinet today He
held that the wartime powers of that
body are now vested in the Railroad
administration which will have full
authority to distribute coal to essen
tial industries Protection for miners
willing to remain working was given
serious consideration by the cabinet.
The general understanding is that
ordinary police forces, state and To-
cal, will be used first; but troops will
be ordered to the mines if necessary.
AS the cabinet met, Secretary Lane
announced that the government would
not hesitate to curtail coal consump-
tion in the industries fifty per cent
in order to save that on hand and
available from non-affecting districts
for distribution to essentials.
Washington, Oct. 30.-There can
be no doubt that the government has
the power in the pubic interest under
the law, to deal with the projected
strike of the bituminous coal miners,
without infringing upon the recogniz-
ed right of men in any line of indus
try to work when they please and quit
when they please. The illegality O.,
this strike can and will be establish
ed without in any way impairing the
general right to strike, and the gen.
eral right to strike is not in issue in
any sense whatever in the present
situation. This is true because the
circumstances differentiate this case
from the case of any other strike that
has ever taken place in the country
1t does not follow that every strike is
lawful merely because the right to
strike is recognized to exist. Every
case must stand upon its own bottom
and be governed by its own facts.
Therefore when the President said
in his statement last Saturday that
is not only unjustifiable but unlawful
reference was had only to the condi-
tions in the impending situation.
The proposed strike, if carried to
its logical conclusion. will paralyzed
transportation and industry 1t will
deprive unnumbered thousands of
men who are making no complaint
about their employment of their right
to earn livelihood for themselves
and their families. will put cities in
darkness, and, il continued only for
a few days. will bring cold and hunger
to millions of our people; If continued
starvation in its wake. 1t would be a
more deadly attack upon the life of the
nation than an invading army.
One decision of the government
conference on coal late today was to
recommend to the President the re-
establishment of a maximum price on
coal which prevailed when the fuel
administration went out of existence.
These prices are considerably low
er than the prices now prevailing. I'll
is considered CERTAIN that the Presi-
dent will comply with the recommen-
dation. which means that a substant-
ial reduction in soft coal nrices, in
cluding those specified in large con-
tracts made since February /, will
become effective almost Immediately
DR.. H. A. Garfield. former fuel ad-
made the announcement
as to resumption of price control He
declared that his recommendations, !
which will go to the President tomor
row. would deal only with the question |
Of prices and would not be concerned
with the ALLEGATION of fuel or the zon |
ing system of deliveries.
The government will make no eff !
forts to bring about indictment of Of |
ticers of the United Mine Workers of
who called the strike on
charges of conspiracy to reduce pro-
duction of necessary product,
Government officials asserted to-
night that reports from confidential
sources showed that not all of the |
miners would strike, that pubic sen.
timent was Overwhelmingly against |
the walkout at the beginning of win
ter and that duration of the strike |
would be brief
Refusal Of the miners organization
to withdraw the strike order was
distinct surprise to officials. who |
changed quickly from a hopeful to a
fighting attitude. There was no dis.
positio nto dispute the right of men
to strike, but officials were grimly de-
termined to see that men who do not
strike will be protected in and ont of |
the mines even if that means the pres
enoe of troops,