The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-12-19
MINES MUST open,
SAYS GOVERNMENT
TROOPS WILL De SENT WAER.
EVER NECESSARY 70 PROTECT
WORKERS IN PRS.
ALL NEGOTIATIONS ARE OFF
Miners Representatives Refuse 70 Ac.
cept IA Per Cent Increase Author.
ICED by Fuel Adninistrator-
Situation ts Serious

Washington. Nov. 29.--The govern
ment served blunt notice on soft coal
miners last night that interference
with coal production would not be toll
Grated.
Warning that legal prosecution
would be employed TO thwart con-
spiracies by either side and troops sent
where necessary to protect miners
willing to work came from the depart.
ment of justice after members of the
cabinet had considered every phase of
the fuel situation. admittedly critical.
in view of the abrupt breaking off of
negotiations.
1t is not the intention Of the gov
eminent to let the mines remain idle
with half of the country in the grip of
cold weather and the coal supplies
rapidly diminishing.
The administration. it was thought
by those in a position to know. had
fully expected the miners to reject
the IA per cent wage increase offered
by Fuel Administrator Garfield. An
tttiS pans lIuu ONCu Vuii-
sidered for augmenting the present
output Of bituminouS mines, officially
figured at better than 10 per cent of
normal.
A statement by Assistant Attorney
General Ames issued late in the day
gave assurance to all miners that
they would be afforded ample pro.
lection if they returned to work, even
If troops had to be called out. This
was the only definite statement Of
policy from the government. In Off.
cial circles. it was said that the fed
eral authorities were determined to
force resumption of operations on the
terms laid down by the fuel admin.
istrator.
The department of justice called
attention to the fact that instructions
issued heretofore by the war depart.
ment in connection with the possibil.
ity of troops in coal fields regions
still We're in effect and that depart
ment commanders stood ready to
guard the fields the instant their all
was requested by the state authorities.
Operators last night set out to re-
sumo production. as far as that was
possible under the muddled conditions.
by telegraphing notice for posting at
mines everywhere offering an in
crease of II per cent for all men
willing to work
There We're few expressions as to
how this information might be receiv-
ed. but Representatives of the miners
here still declared it would be no in
centive and that it would be ignored
especially in the central competitive
fields. embracing the states of Ohio,
Illinois. Indiana and western Pennsyl.
vania. Operators. however. believe
that it will draw large numbers to
the mines and that next week will see
a bi. increase in the daily soft coal
output
DR.. Garfield had explained earlier
in the day that he regarded II per
cent lust and sufficient wage ad.
vance for mine workers and that mine
owners who did not pay it would find
their properties taken over and op.
Grated by the fuel administration.
John L. Lewis. acting president Of
the United Mine Workers of America.
who had borne the hrunt of the wage
negotiation fight. went home last
night. Worn out by the Ion: wrangle
Before leaving for Indianapolis. Lewis
saw Secretary of Labor Wilson and
Samuel Gompers. president of the
American Federation of Labor. He
did not have much to SAY about the
situation. and explained that he had
arranged with Gompers to have the
federation's lawyers assist counsel for
the miners in perfecting their appeal
from the ruling Of Federal Judge An.
Aerson ordering the coal strike order
cancelled.
In labor and official circles the meet.
ing OF Lewis and Gompers was regard
ed as significant. but there was nc
statement concerning questions dis
cussed except Lewis reference TO seek.