The Clinton chronicle. (Clinton, S.C.) 1901-current, November 06, 1919, Image 6
OFFICIALS THINK
'STRIKE MAY END
Adequate Protection wfll be Given
Miners who Desire to Betnrn to
Work. First Brmk Appears in
Banks in West Yirgrinia District.
Washington- Nnv n —rWBelal Wach-
ington was firm in the belief tonight
that the end of the coal strike was
near. There was nothing deflnjte or
tangible in the way of actual develop
ments to justify this hopeful view of
the situation, but everywhere feeling
prevailed tfyat influences were being
brought to bar to have the strikers
numbering more than 400,000 to return
to .wdrk.
Confidential reports to the depart
ment of Justice from its agents in the
coal fields were said to show many
defections from the ranks of the strik
ers. Some of the reports said that
large numbers of idle miners had de
clared they wanted to return to work
but were afraid.
active charge of the threatening strike
of soft coal miners scheduled to begin
Friday at midnight, John U Lewis,
acting president of the United Mine
Workers of America, declared to
night the strike order was still in ef
fect and .that the 500,000 miners in
the bituminous field would walk out
to a man unless the operators made
concessions.
“The statement of President Wilson
nnnnalng thp girikchaa thna far-haA
workers’ annals, was $1,228 a year.
In this penal* itAS-be used-di-
rectly or indirectly for the benefit of
✓
^ecTthYt adequate protection would be
given. There was no specific state
ment as to how this would be pro-
"rwrdrrytrnr^fR roopT
would be available at the call of any
governor who believed it necessary to
preserve order or protect workers.
Scattered reports from the fields,
reaching into 28 states, showed the
first breaks in the ranks of organized
labor in West Virginia and Colorado.
Advices to Washington headquarters
of the operators said that all non-un
ion mines were working to full capaci
ty and turning out considerably more
coal than on Saturday. Some of the
operators’ reports said that union men
had gone to work in non-union mines,
and that there was growing sentiment
that the men themselves should have
had the right to vote on the strike be
fore it was ordered.
This information, to a large extent,
was in line with that received by the
government, especially as to defec
tions. Officials said the strikers real
ized public sentiment was against
them, and some labor leaders also
were taking this view.
Attorney General Palmer, handling
the main end of the government’s
case, went to Pennsylvania tonight
feeling, it w'as said, that the crisis
might be over before Saturday, the day
on which the temporary injunction re
straining officers of the miner’s organ
ization from activity was made return
able. Asked what the government
would do that dav, an official said:
“We will not cross that bridge un
til we get to it.’’
The fact that no disorder was re
ported anywhere by department of
justice agents was taken as a good
sign that conditions were hopeful and
that the miners realized it was a time
no results so far as we are concerned,”
Lewis said. No word reached him, he
stated, from government sources dur
ing the day. . v
Lewis expects to'reach Indianapolis
dt 2:30 p. m., where he will make
preparations for the meeting Wed
nesday of the international executive
board. He said tonight he expected
no developments prior to this con-
ferenfce:
Branding statements that coal min
ers were earning $10 to $15 a day as
"absurd,” Mr. Lewis said the average
pay of miners in the bituminous field
for the year 1918, which he declared
was the best twelve-month in mine
earning of a miner under ’favorable
circumstances might be, but said the
earnings of “day men” amounted to
TBKT
»51«Wn Ha 1 'anil JS aTay"
include track layers, drivers, mechan
ics and laborers. Coal diggers, he
stated, can make more money than
that. He explained that wages of
miners were curtailed, however, by
the fact that mines operate on the
average of only three or four d&ys a
week. This condition, he said, made
necessary a shorter day and week in
order to furnish continuous employ
ment, as embraced in wage demands
suggested by miners early in the con
ferences. Other demands include 60
per cent increase in wages, time and
a half for overtime, elimination of the
strike penalty clause, etc.
In a statement issued tonight he
said, to clear up popular misappre
hensions about exactly what took
place in the Joint conferences^ Mr.
Lewis placed responsibility for the
strike again on the operators. The
statement follows:
At the biennial conference of the
United Mine Workers at Cleveland,
September 9 to 23, attended by 2,046
delegates, a wage program and policy
was outlined and scale committees
were selected who w^re instructed to
present demands to the operators.
On Septembr 25, at Buffalo, the
miners and operators met in joint
committee. The miners presented their
demands and were met by a blunt
statement that the Washington agre-
ment had not expired because the war
was not ended and peace had not been
promulgatd by the President.
No counter-proposals were submit
ted by the operators, who seemingly
were determined to avoid making a
new agreement. This committee ad-
for sober judgment and action. Sev-ljourned for a week and reconvened
eral miners’ meetings were scheduled I in Philadelphia on October 9, where
for tonight in the coal fields and it
was thought here that these might
have an important bearing on the gen
eral situation.
W’hile it had been the government’s
first reported intention to let the
strike wear itself out, hope of settling
the same circumstances obtained and
sine die adjournment took place on
October 11.
The miners insisted at all times
that they were ready to consider de
mands from the standpoint of merit
alqne. But consideration on this basis
am amazed by its contents,” the at
torney general replied.
“While, of course, proper protec
tion will be given to all miners who
are willing to continue at work, it
must be perfectly plain to you that
even under such conditions the supply
of coal must be far from norma].
Your proposition amounts, in fact, to
a declaration that coal dealers should
be permitted to take advantage of
Lhasa abnormal . oaadltioat^aad
their prices based entirely upon the
law of supply and demand, which is
only another way of saying that they
should be permitted to charge what
ever they please.. The demand for
fuel will be constantly Increasing with
the supply decreasing, unless there is
government regulation, prices charged
to the public will be outrageous anj
the profits accruing to other citizens
to co-operate in the general public 1|
welfare in this emergency, even to the
extent of sacrificing profits.
VThe'action of the •government in
restraining the officers of the mine
workers’ union from furthering the
strike order already issued was taken
solely in the general public interest
FREE
Bread, Biscuits, Cake, Muffins, at
the employers’ side of the controversy
jf aay_advantagg shqll i^^ken^C).
present conditions by any arrange
ment or agreement of two or more
persons to restrict either production
or distribution in order to enhance
the price of fuel, I shall without hesi
tation take precisely the same action
against such persons as has been
taken against the officers of the mine
workers’ union.”
^FARMER
:fs carrying an
express package from
a big mail-ordfr house was
accosted by a local dealer.
“W'fc Mn'l yo* buy thaikm
vf fooJ» from me? / coaU Aom
you wooaU hoot boon pmbonLdng a
S
riovvM More, wmcn nttpw poy kho
tarn and Halida op thla locality."
Tho famnr looked at tho moo-
chant a momonl and than aaid:
"Why don’t yoa patnntm your
homo payor and adoartiaa? / road H
anddidn ’tknou>thatyoa hadthootajf
MORAL—ADVERTISE
Nov. lOth to Nov. 14th
1 9-
Mrs. Nannie D. Worth, Domestic Science Ex- -
pert and famed throughout the South for her “Old
Virginia' r ~cooKmg, will give free lectures, and
demonstrations on scientific baking and cooking,
Daily, Nov. 1 Oth to Nov. 14th
Mrs. Worth will actually bake bread, biscuits,
cakes, rolls, and will explain thoroughly every point
from the mixing to the. baking. PILLS^URY’S
BEST FLOUR will be used, and every housekeeper
should come and see what delicious products can
be made with this economical and unfailing flour.
>
NOTHING SOLD.
Demonstration Hours:
• ‘ ' . A ■ - 1 • ' ^—, • 1
9 a. m. to 12:00. t 2 p. m. to 6 p. m.
JK'
-v-
it put all agencies to work and somd we denied by the operators
direct steps were taken, but their na- “The government in conference with
ture was not disclosed. • operators^ and miners last week at
< The sweeping powers of the federal Washington endeavored to secure a
court injunction in cutting off all reopening-of negotiations. The miners
strike benefits is being relied upon consented without reservation. The
by the government .to bring the strike operators declined except under con-
to a speedy end. - dltlons which rendered-negotiations
Local representatives of the United | Impossible.”
Mine Workers of America were nbtl
I COAL TRADE WAST
NO PRICE FIXfiD
Attorney General Sharply Rebukes
Head of Association for His Sugges
tion. PuMk Interest will be Pro
tected.
Washington, Nov. 2.—Suggestion
• V - -
fled today that checks to cover ex
penses for the last half of October
could not be sent at this time because
of the court’s order.
Idleness of the miners with no
funds available for their support
makes it doubtful if they can hold out
for any extended period, according to I from the Mi holesale Coal Trade asso-
the view of men familiar with strike elation of New York that the govern-
conditions. It is largely because of ment should not fix a maximum price
this fact that labor leaders themselves for coal or interfere with the normal
look for early peace in the industry. course of sup’ply and demand during
Three conciliators of the department the strike brought from Attorney Gen-
pf labor, here from the coal fields, | eral Palmer today vigorous assertion
that he would ^take the same action
against persons enhancing prices as
was taken against the union officers.
The action of the government was
taken solely in the general public in
terest,” Mr. Palmer declared, “and I
shall not permit it to be used directly
or indirectly for the benefit of the
employers’ side of the controversy. ^
W. A. Marshall, president of the
association, wrote Mr. Palmer recom
mending that miners who want to
work be given protection and that
coal consumers be allowed to obtain
fuel through the usual, normal chan
nels. He asserted that with adequate
protection enough coal would be pro
duced to meqf the emergency, that
Infixing a maximum price would curtail
the operators’ ability to meet normal
production costs caused by the strike
and discourage their efforts to con
tinue work, that priority lists would
overstock certain consumers and al
low others to go without, and that
the fuel contr61 act could be used to
prevent attempts at profiteering.
“I am ]n receipt of your letter and
When You Think of
Misses and Ladies
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you naturally think of
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Style, Distinction and Excellence are the
outstanding features of our apparel.
Come in and look over our large stock of
Coats, Suits, Dresses, Skirts, Waists, etc.
re in conference with officials of
^he Ss d£partment today and gave first
hand information as to actual condi
tions. They were Hymel Davis and
James Purcell of Kentucky and Wil
liam Rogers of Iowa.
The question of possible curtailment
of train service has been left to re
gional directors for determination, al
though railroad officials agreed that
unless the strike is brought to a quick
end, it may be necessary to reduce
sharply both* freight apd passenger
service. The railroad administration
is ready to seize such coal as It needs,
and move the rest to districts where
the supply is low.
PRESIDENT FAILS
TO MOTE MINERS
Lewis Off to Indianapolis to Take
Charge of Coal Strike Starting Fri
day. Repeats Charge that Operators
are to Blame.
Springfield, 111., Oct 27.—Ready to
leave • Springfield early tomorrow
morning for Indianapolis to assume
QUALITY GOODS
Our business has been built upon the solid foundation of quality.
We consider jt above everything because it means that our custo
mers will be more than satisfied with their purchases at this store.
You will find some unusual values in the best styles and work
manship, and our prices are the most reasonable in town. Come
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M. S. Bailey & Sons
“The Big Store With the Big Values’*