Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 273, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1919 — NO "ARMISTICE DAY” FOR LABOR [ARTICLE]

NO "ARMISTICE DAY” FOR LABOR

A. f. of L to Issue Call for Series of Nationwide Mass Meetings by Labor. • TO AID STRIKING MINERS - - ■ '" y ; Union Leaders Declare Coal Diggers Will Refuse to Obey Federal Judge's Order to Call Off Gmat Strike. Washington, Nov. 11. —Organized labor will be mobilized to support the striking coal mtaersf The executive council of the American Federation of Labor decided to issue a call today for a series of nationwide mass meetings by labor, the -dates to be set later. “It does not look as though Tuesday is going to be ‘Armistice day’ for labor,” said W. D. Mahon. To Defy Court’s Order? Labor leaders predicted that international of the United Mine Workers of America, meeting at Indianapolis, would not call off the coal strike as directed b yFederal Judge Anderson, whatever the legal consequences might be. - . One of the spokesmen for the miners’ Organization said he doubted If Acting President Lewis and his associates had the power, even if they had the Incllntlon to comply with the mandate. “The strike was ordered by a delegate convention in the event the operators refused to grant our demands,” the spokesman said,; “and Lewis mere-* ly carried out Instructions in ordering the strike. The convention must call It off.” Morrison Dodges Questions. ♦ Frank Morrison, secretary of the American Federation of Labor, would not add anything to the statement issued last night by the executive council Supporting the striking miners and demanding that the government with; draw the injunction proceedings. “That was the statement of the executive council and It speaks for itself,” Morrison said. “I am not here to Interpret it.” ' The federation secretary had been _asked for a statement in view of the opinion in some Quarters that the pronouncement of organized labor was a notice to thestrlklngminers to stand pat.

“Feet Ndt Cold,” Says Tumulty. “There is nothing to add,” Morrison replied. “That question has already been asked a number of times today, and if you want an answer you will have to assemble the council.” White House officials reftised to comment on the federatlop’s statement. “The situation -is In the hands of the courts/.’ Secretary Tumulty said, adding: > “This Is no time to get cold feet.” The American Federation of Labor stands before the country as an Mquallfled Indorser of the strike of soft coal miners and as bitterly opposed to the action of the government in attempting to end the strike through Injunction proceedings,, which action It characterized as “so autocratic as to stagger the human mind.”' Indorsement of the strike was an-neunced-i&astatement issruedbythe executive council of the federation which pledged to the strikers the full support of organized labor and appealed to the citizenship of the country to give “like indorsement and aid to" the men engaged in this momentous struggle.” , " * , Promises Unqualified Support. . After going into the history of events leading up to the strike and since, the statement declared the course of the government in securing a court order at Indianapolis Saturday directing officials of the miners’ organization to call off the strike by Tuesday night an invasion of the rights of the miners and demanded the withdrawal of the injunction. Use of the Lever act under which the court proceedings were instituted was severely condemned as “an injustice to all liberty-loving Americans.” After declaring thdt “by all the facts in the case the miners’ strike is justified; we indorse it; we are convinced of the justice of the miners’ cause,” the statement concluded with an appeal to all citizens to support the strikers and promised support of organized labor/ ,