Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1919 — LITTLE GOAL IS BEING MINES [ARTICLE]

LITTLE GOAL IS BEING MINES

Miners Refuse to Return to Work Pending Wage Negotiations. Washington, D. C., Nov. 17. There were evidences of real progress today in the wage scale negotiations between coal miners and oprators of the central competitive field, although no meeting of tfie Joint wage scale committee was held. The conference was postponed until tomorrow at the request of the operators, who spent the day preparing a reply to the demand resubmitted Saturday by the workers. The operators were in touch by wire with owners not represented here for the purpose of obtaining their approval of the counter proposals, which have now assumed definite shape. Reports were also prepared to show the effect that higher wages, taken in connection with the suspension of production, would have on coal prices this winter. Secretary Wilson does not intend to allow negotiations to drag, although he will not interfere as long as the wage scale committees are making headway, it was said at the department of labor. While tbe nation’s visible ooal supply In rapidly diminishing, the administration is trying to bring about the resumption of iproduotion without delay and intends tp hasten the settlement between operators and miners, it was said. Officials of the department of labor stated, however, that reports to the effect that the government might take over .the mines and operate them were without foundation. Ouch action, they Bald, would be taken only as the last resort and after full discussion by the cabinet. Indianapolis, Nov. 17.—Agents of the bureau of investigation of the department of Justice are bending their efforts toward prevention of outside radical Influence being exerted upon bituminous coal miners now on strike, it was learned today. Reports of plans of Reds in other Industries to go into the coal fields and urge defiance of the law and particularly the injunction issued in federal court here to prevent encouragement of the strike, have reached government agents here and Bteps a*e being taken to prevent the carrying out of these plans. In one case, it was stated today, an agitator was on his way to the .Indiana fields, was overtaken by federal officers and warned to keep away. In a statement given out today by Dan W. Simms, special United States district attorney In the coal miners’ ease, it was declared that miners as individuals are violating the injunction of the court when they refuse to return to work. "The miners cannot, collectively or Individually, do any act or refrain from doing any act that will further or encourage or continue

the strike," Mr. Simms asserted. "It was the strike itself against which the injunction was leveled." Few, if any miners in the Indiana coal fields reported for work today and no mines were operated.