Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-10-17
Union Officials Declare They
Are Unable to Con-
troll Strikers.
MORE MINES IDLE
AS MEN QUIT WORK
Operators Declare Increased Pay Is
Impossible Under Existing Price
Scale Fixed by Government-Garfel
Sends Warning to Miners Telling
Them Strikes Must Not Be Declared
Operators Pledge Support.

Springfield, ILL.,, Oct. II. - Early re-
ports today to the headquarters OF the
Illinois Coal Operators Association
here indicate that many more mines in
the central and southern Illinois coal
fields are shut down as a part of the
movement of miners to force an i'm
mediate increase in wages. 1t was es-
timated that sixty mines were idle.
Operators say they are helpless to give
the miners an advance in pay unless
the fuel administrator in Washington
allows them to charge more for the
coal in the market.
Miners in the northern field are said
to object strenuously to the proposed
agreement reached at Washington. The
advance OF $1.40 q day for laborers,
provided for In the Washington agree
ment, it is declared, would enable the
laborers to make more money than ex-
pert miners
Frank Harrington. president Of the
Illinois Mine Workers. now at Joliet,
has informed the federal authorities. it
is said here, that open rebellion exists
in the Illinois field. Miners officials say
they are unable to control the miners.
Garfield Warns Minors.
In the face OF an unauthorized sisfks
! OF 10000 coal miners In Illinots and
threatened strikes in southwest dis
trlcts. Fuel Administrators Garfield to-
night dispatched a vigorous telegram
to labor leaders in districts affected,
emphatically declaring that strikes
must not occur"
DR.. Garfield asserted that he will use
every power committed to him to pre-
vent strikes, and warned labor leaders
against permitting strike orders to
stand.
II strikes have been ordered, DIR. Gar.
field declared, the order must be re-
voked at once. and if operators and
miners can not compose their differ
ences the administrator urges them to
come to Washington, meanwhile keep
ing the mines running
Strike Must Be Stopped
'"rhe terms of the agreement agreed
upon at Washington between operators
and miners are fair" DR.. Garfield said,
in a message to the labor leaders. II
understand that the only clause OBJ
jected to is the clause providing for
penalty. 1t is Just that this should be
agreed to. shall use every power COM
mtted to me to prevent strikes. and
warn you against allowing the order
| to stand"
Distribution and not lack Of product
was declared by anthracite coal pro-
ducers in conference here today with
administrator Garfield to be the cause
Of shortage anthracite in some sections
of the country. particularly the middle
west.
Operators Pledge Support.
The anthracite operators, represent
Ing a majority portion or the country's
hard coal output, pledged their full sup
port to the government in it's effort to
solve coal difficulties, and declared that
the mines have produced this year S.
| 900. 900 more tons Of anthracite than
| were mined at this time last year.
The operators agreed to name at once
a special representative Of their indus
try to serve as an assistant to l.. A.
Snead head of the division Of fuel sup
plies Of the fuel administration.