Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1917-08-23
SINISTER HANDS
IN COAL STRIKE
Influence Of PrO-German and J,
". W. Is Seen.
HEAD OF UNION PUZZLES

With 80 Mines of 40 Idle in One Dis
trct, President Harrington Doesn't
Raise His Hand for Public ~
Whom His "Dues" Are Ultimately
Paid.
Springfield, ILL.,, Aug. 14.-That L.
w. w agitators and German influ-
ences are responsible for the spread
ing strike of Illinois coal miners was
the charge made ny a high state Off
cial The official declared these intlu-
ences have been at work for months
among the miners.
80 Mines Shut Down.
A shut down Of thirty-two of the
forty coal mines in the Springfield dis
trict as the result of strikes among
mine workers was the situation that
faced Justice Orrin N. Carter, appoint
ed coal director by Governor Lowden,
when he called representatives of the
coal mine operators, unions and state
council of defence to conference
This was the first move the director
made in solving the coal situation
AS the result, Justice Carter an
nounced public hearings will be open
ed this week at which all parties to
the controversy will be called The
task ahead of the judge is to ascer-
tain the cost of production OF coal and
fix an equitable price at which it
should be sold at the mine mouth.
harrington Fails to Attend.
Interest of state officials is center.
ing on Frank harrington, president Of
the Illinois Miners union. who did not
attend the conference with Justice
Carter but instead sent Vice Presi-
dent Fishwick. He assigned his fail
ure to attend to the fact that he was
a member of the exemption board.
But at the same time interviews pur-
porting to come from Mr.. Earring
ton caught the attention Of public Oh
ficials because they believe such in
terviews were detrimental to the eff
forts to get coal prices reduced.
Along with this, strikes among miners
were springing Up throughout the
state.
One interview credited to Mr.. Far
rington from Springfield follows:
"The problem is very serious" de-
clared Mr.. Harrington. Miners have
been told by the state council Of de.
Tense that coal prices are indefensi-
BILE, and they have determined to have
some of the loot
Mr.. harrington said present prices
were not "indefensible" and that the
state council of defense had never
| given the coal operators chance to
show what the actual cost of coal pro
duction in Illinois was.
5000 Coal Miners Return TO Work.
Terre Haute, Ind, Aug. lahore
than 5000 miners CT the Clinton field.
who have been on strike as result
for better car service in transpOrta
ton to and from work, will return tc
the mines. The men accepted the teE!'
pOIdly all dllSSll1CAI VI IAC ian" "J
company to put Ten new passenger
cars in service and obtain others at
soon as possible.
U. S. Would End Strikes.
Washington, Aug. 14.-Chairman
Peabody of the coal production com
mittee of the national defense council
and representatives of the United
Mine Workers were in CONFERENCE in
an effort to settle thirty-thrCe strikes
in Illinois coal minef. The miners
spokesman stated the men were eager
to settle their differences in man
ner that will not impede the wal
preparations Of the government.
Kentucky Mines Closed.
Lexington, KY, Aug. l4.-Reports
reaching here are to the effect that
every coal mine of a large size in the
southeastern Kentucky district, or dis
trict 10, United Mine Workers OF
America, are closed down following
the strike of between 1900 and TO-
900 men Saturday. The operators, &C
Ecording to the dispatches, have re-.
iterated that the men are now draw
ing higher wages than ever before.
1t is known that federal agents have
been in the neighborhood several days
and United States marshals in sur
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