Americus times-recorder., 1919-11-28
TO Use TROOPS
TO GUARD MEN;
IA PCT. RAISE
WILL Be GIVEN
Government Acts Fol-
lowing Refusal of Min
ers To Accept Award

" "NAoAAAANN O4N' WV 60 Wy
Associated Press. )-Seizure of coal
mines where the owners do not show
disposition to cooperate in increas-
ing production, and the use of troops
to protect miners who desire to work,
has been decided upon by the gov
ernment, it was stated today by off
cials.
These plans were agreed upon by
the cabinet "Wednesday to meet the
refusal of either miners or operat-
ors, or both, to agree to the govern
ment's wage increase proposal.
End To Negotiations.
An abrupt end came Thursday to
all attempts to settle the coal strike
by peaceful agreement.
Miners and operators spent a
bleak Thanksgiving afternoon in en-
bittered debate over the government
proposal for IA per cent. wage in
crease made Wednesday night by
Fuel Administrator Garfield, and re-
jected it and every other proposal
that was Forthcoming, and then dis
solved, sine die
Participants went home last night.
Acting President John L Lewis,
of the mine workers, though refusing
| to say one word as to the strike it.
self, which theoretically was called
off in obedience to federal court in
junction holding it violation of the
Lever act for war time food and fuel
control, scored the government round
ly at the conclusion of the confer
ence. SO did William Green, secPe-
tary Of the mine workers.
Operators though accepting the
government proposal definitely in a
letter they mad public, intimated
that the governmental refusal to al
low price increases would bear recon-
sideration.
1t was behind closed doors that the
coal situation reached it's climax af-
ter involving the full attention of the
federal government for two days pre-
viously. There was much heated ora
terry, but T. w. Guthrie, of Pitts
burg, acting chairman of the opera
tors committee, described the parlia-
mentaTy procedure succinctly as he
came out. The operators, by a pre-
arranged plan, notified the miners
scale committee for the central COM
petitive field of their acceptance of
DR.. Garfeld's plan
This the mine workers promptly
voted down. In turn the miners put
forward counter proposal, that Sec
retary Wilson's suggestion for 81 Sc
per cent. increase be granted, and
this the operators fatty refused For
the third time the operators renewed
their formal offer of arbitration, and
the miners voted this down. By unan-
imous vote, adjournment was taken.
''The operators are pretending to
accept DR.. Garfeld's proposal" Mr..
Lewis said, manifesting scorn and. in
dignation as he called the newspa-
per men around him in the Uttered
and noisy hall that was the scene of
the all-day gatherings.
"But as they do it, they state they
are unable to operate many of their
mines under it. 1t would be foolish
for US to attempt to make an agree
ment unless miners are to be given
work.
"Our position is unchanged. We
hold the United States government
cannot break its word. The pledge
of Secretary Wilson to grant us 81
per cent increase must be redeemed.
In my judgment DR.. Garfield and the
cabinet have committed the most col
ossal blunder in the history of our
nation. They are blindly following
an academic theory, without regard
to justice to the mine workers or eff
fects on the people of the United
States.
Responsibility for the crisis now
confronting the nation must be with
those states using the powers of the
government to oppress and deny JUS
tice to a great element Of its citizen
ship directly concerned in industry.
81 cannot believe the people of our
country will indorse such a policy of
oppression and repression which
means continued industrial chaos and
intense suffering on the part Of the
mine workers and our citizenship