Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1919 — NEW MEDIATION IN COAL STRIKE [ARTICLE]

NEW MEDIATION IN COAL STRIKE

Secretary Lin* and Bernard Baruch Trying to End Big Walkout. COAL PRODUCTION INCREASES More Miners Return to Pita in West Virginia.—Hines Says No Community Need Fear Real Shortage. i Washington, Nov. 7. —While the gov* ernment Is standing pat In its oppoal* tion to* .e soft coal strike and is enforcing the law and taking othee steps to uphold the position of tbs president that the strike Is unlawful and an attack upon the public interest and the government, Franklin K. Lana secretary of the Interior, chairman oi ‘the recent Industrial conference, and Bernard M. Baruch, chairman of ths public group In that body, are quietly . engaged In Informal mediation bei tween the ccAl operators and miners 'with a view to arriving at some basis upon which the strike can be abandon* ed and negotiations begun with honoi ito both sides. Coal Production Increases.

Information in the hands of govern* l ment officials in touch with the strike i situation Indicated an Increase in bl* . turn inous coal production, especially .in the West Virginia fields. ( A further defection In union forces was noted In the early morning reports, although officials were not able to say whether the break In the union ranks was Increasing to any great ex» tent. This phase of the situation is being watched closely by the government de* partmen ts, particularly the railroad administration and the department ol justice. Assures Public of Protection. h Director General Hines reiterated that no community need fear that It’ would be cut oft entirely from fuel supplies so long as the stocks undei supervision of the railroad administration last. He declared the primary pun 1 pose of the machinery set up by hli i office was to guard against concentration of coal stocks in one section to the detriment of another. Railroad adnflnlstratlon officials refused to accept seriously published reports of traffic congestion In some of the larger terminals.

West Virginia Minoa Reopening. Charleston, W. Va., Nov. 7.—Continued increase In coal production In West Virginia is expected by open ators, following receipt of report* that more mines in the organised district! may start operating soon. Reports received by them Indicate that there are now forty-four mines working tn or ganized or partly organised district! throngbout the state which were dosed early in the strike. ' In the thoroughly organized districts mine union officials say the ’strikers are standihg firm. Relative to the position on which strikers stand, W. N. Vanderpool, president of the Jocal union of mine workers at South Carbon, in the heart of the Kanawha region, told newspaper men that the striking miners demanded an increase in wages to meet the high cost of living, but “did not insist on the six hour day." Disposition of federal troops in the West Virginia coal fields was completed and the military authorities were in position to “cope with any situation which might arise," said Adj.Gen. Thomas, Davis, who has been cooperating with Col. W. P. Harrell, commanding the soldiers.