Show COAL Al FEAR fA l LONG N NT STRUGGlE T l Rival Factions Appear to Be Sparring for an Opening but Without Indications of Result C CHICAGO Nov 5 Confront Confront- Confronted ed by statements of both miners and operators that the thc tt r. r i r i long n g true tru th bituminous itu i us coalfields coal coalfields fields whet where when p jod production tun on tir T y has been at a standstill since the nationwide nationwide nation nation- wide strike of ot miners went into effect at midnight Friday night government circles today still apparently were pervaded by an an undercurrent of ot op optimism optimism optimism op- op regarding an early settlement of ot the big walkout Indications were that the mine mineworkers mineworkers' mineworkers mineworkers' mineworkers mineworkers' workers' workers leaders and the coal mine operators were sparring for an openIng openIng open- open Ing ling that might lead to an amicable settlement of ot the dispute FUEL FUEL SHORTAGE As the approximately miners added another days day's idleness to the tho strike the fuel shortage made itself t felt fejt Jt further by the public in some parts of ot the country notably Montana Montana Mon Mon- tana From St. St Louis also it was re reported reported reported re- re ported that a fuel tuel shortage threat threat- ened Other places mainly west of ot the Mississippi frantically were mak making mak ing lag what preparations were possible to combat the advent of ot winter So far tar railroad operation has not been interfered with and the closing down of ot no industry because of ot tho the coal strike has been reported DAYS DAY'S DEVELOPMENTS There was little change in the general general general gen gen- eral situation during the past twenty- twenty four tour hours Reports from West Vest Virginia Virginia Virginia Vir Vir- ginia that four union mines in n the New River district were in operation and that two VO in the unorganized Guyan field were closed by a sympathetic sympathetic sympathetic strike a threat of ot the North Dakota lignite miners who vho returned to work after one days day's layoff to walk I out unless increased wages were granted and a statement by the warden warden war war- den of ot the Oklahoma state prison that four mines on the prison farm probably probably probably proba proba- bly would be reopened with convict labor Thursday were regarded as the most important Should the Oklahoma mines be placed laced in operation it would be bo the first resumption of ot production in the Southwest in any mine affected by the strike Ed Boyle mine Inspector of ot Oklahoma however ordered his aides to see seo that the state law against Inexperienced Inexperienced in inexperienced In- In experienced persons working in n mines was enforced MAY SUE UNIONS Thomas T T. T Brewster chairman of ot the coal mine operators' operators scale committee committee committee com com- announced that the operators acting individually probably bly would sue the United Mine Workers of ot America for tor breach of ot contract Except for a fight tight between veen mine guards and miners at one point re regarded regarded re- re as of ot no consequence no disorders disorders dis dis- dis orders had been reported ported from Crom any re-I re district Claims Made That Strike Is Broken Dl DENVER DENIER VEn Colo Nov No 5 Operators b.-Operators In the Trinidad and t teal coal coalfields fields Ields toda today say 88 the strike of ot miners is broken Union leaders in the same districts say aay it has only started Owners of ot mines base their a assertions assertions asser asser- er- er on reports from superintendents that more men for tor work when the 7 o'clock whistles blew this 1 morning than at any time since the walkout t started last Saturday Union men say ay the number of ot men out has made dally daily gains Ins and that they have sign signed d up lip new union contracts contract with several small Independent mines where owners have agreed to produce coal only for tor local consumption until the strike ends end Several Senra I meetings of ot miners were held last nl night ht for the adoption of ot I resolutions resolution to In be ht forwarded to President President dent Wilson and ami Governor Shoup houp proon pro- pro on page 2 2 j 1 8 n nr l r i 1 FALS f fi Fl i E I s l l T i J G Government Government t Refuses to toi i Withdraw draw Injunction Su Suit r While Strike of oft t r poal boal oal Miners Continues Continued from page 1 3 testing against the presence of soldiers sol sol- dle diers s s. s I I M Maximum Price of ofa j t a Coal Is Maintained j t WASHINGTON ASHINGTON no Nov b. b There b.-There There will win willbe willi i be I jno o change at present in maximum maximum- 3 I i coal prices fixed by the government nt I I- I I Dr Garfield fuel administrator today toda It tol told 1 a delegation of ot operators If the theli li strike lasts readjustments of or prices i fi may be necessary he said The op operators op- op r I I had complained that the maxi- maxi 1 mum limits were pinching them Li Lignite nite Miners E i P Present Demands t i t BISMARCK N. N D. D NOV 5 Lignite 5 Lignite I I op operators of t North Dakota Dakpta nave under It r t consideration today the demand of I 1 miners that wages be Increased 60 per perI I cent made ade at the conference held at Bismarck yesterday when Henry t Dr president of ot district No 27 United United Mine l Workers appeared b before fore t th the operators t The fhe he operators will give their answer a I a at t la conference tomorrow afternoon J d j A strike will be bo called caned In North Da- Da Ii 11 ko kotas kota's s 's lignite mines unless ss the t demand S I Is accepted under the terms R the ultimatum ulti ulti- ulti ultimatum II delivered by Drennan Operators assert that under the contract contract con- con tract tract now inow existing the miners have themselves not to strike during I life of the contract which runs until September 20 1920 |