Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-30

A certain radical element in the
United States is going to take advan-
tage of the present unsettled sltua-
ton in the nations coal industry crl-
sis and try to make it necessary Tor
the government to take over all the
mines and operate them. 1t is the
element which has been carrying on
propaganda for naturalization of the
mines.
This statement was made last night
by an official in close touch with the
activities and plans of the Department
of Justice, the fuel administration and
the War Department to get striking
II fnerS back to work and insure the
production of necessary coal supply.
knowing the purposes of this radi-
cal group. the Attorney General, the
fuel admins trator and the Secretary
Of War were extremely. careful in
making their preparations for opera
ton Of mines following the refusal
of miners to accept the proffered IA
per cent wage increase, the official
further explained. He said the gov
eminent contemplateS no action which
can be reasonably construed by these
radicals as encouraging. And il there
is any evidence of a united effort by
them to force the government to seize
and run the mines--in other words,
Conspiracy-it was declared. the De-
partment of Justice is ready to pro-
coed against the trouble makers with
speed and vigor
Reticent as to Details.
Because the government really is
prepared to meet any eVentuallty
which may arise in the coal situation.
and because the powers that be are
deadly serious in their determination
to carry out their plans to the last
point to save the nation from coal
famine, they are not telling any of the
details of their program. Further
more, they are not excited because
more, they are not exc I d. because
direction circumstances direct.
They are convinced today that the
over and that with the IA per cent
wage increase established all of the
miners now out gradually and quietly
win return to work as their means of
reason that with Christmas near
most of the men will want extra
spending money and they will be
willing to go back to the job and
earn it.
View Accredited to Lewis.
Some operators charged last night
that John L. Lewis, acting president
he left for Springfield, ILL.,, Friday
evening. conferred with Secretary of
Labor Wilson and with Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
trallOn OF LABOR, TOT the purpose OF
indncing them to use their efforts to
lave the government take over all
mines and operate them with union
labor. 1t was Impossible to get any
information with regard to this at
either the Department of Labor or at
the federation headquarters.
Both the Department of Justice and
the. fuel administration are watching
sharply the developments in mining
centers. Neither operators nor min
ers who may interfere with or delay
restoration of coal production to
normal will be spared, it was declared
by attaches of these agencies. But
no further steps by national authori-
ties are contemplated, it was indi-
Gated, until it is seen how satisfac-
torily state and local officials deal
with the situation in their respective
localities
Assurance to Trade Unions.
Assurance that the government
would not tolerate any attempt to
destroy trade unions OF the principle
of collective bargaining on the part
of employing interests wishing to
take advantage of the present situa-