Evening journal., 1918-09-17
Miners QUIT WORK;
10 Mines CLOSE
DR.. Garfield Threatens to
Hold Is, 900 Strikers Per-
sonally Responsible
REFUSES TO HEAR
PLEAS JUST NOW

SHAMOKIN, Pa, Sept. i7-Ten thou
sand miners in the ShamOkin regior
have stopped work forcing flfteen col
lieries TO shut down. This followed tn,
action OF representatives OF more thai
seventy local unions OF District No. J
United Nine Workers OF America, takel
at a mass meeting here Saturday even
Ing 20 suspend work pending an ad
justment Of their wages.
Despite the ultmatum Of Fuel Ad-
mlnstrator Garfield that there will bc
no further conferences on the wag,
question until the men return 10 work
sentiment among the rank and file here
was wholly In favor Of a continuation
OF the suspension. The walkout cali
ed without authority or approval Of the
union officials, is thorough and a sch
tl9ment seems far off.
POTTSVILLE Pa, Sept. i7-Disre-
garding the pleas and the order OF the
union leaders, a portion Of the mine
workers in the Ninth District went on
strike yesterday.
The ,tie-up includes the collleries al
Shamokin, Ashland and Shenandoah. AT
Mount Carmel. Mahanoy City and south
Of the Broad Mountain the men are all
at work with the exception OF the col
lieries Of the Susquehanna Coal Com
pany at Lykens. About one-twentieth
Of the output Is affected. The total
output in the region in July was $780,
775 gross tons. approximately 25OOC
men are out.
On all sides the men were condemned
and there appeared a strong possibil-
ity that many will return % work. The
difficulty is that the radicals, who are
said TO be Industrial Workers Z the
World men, picket the roads leading TO
the collieries and turn back the men
who are disposed 10 loaf rather than
Tight their way through to work. The
open charge is made that the Industrial
Workers Of the World men are endeav-
oring to get control OF the union Or
sani7ation In the district.
10 is not hought the suspension will
continue for moro than a few days at
the mos'
The Mamanoy Plane local yesterday
passed the following resolution: The
Nfahsnoy Plane Local Union, No i5i2
OF the United Mine Workers OF Amer
lea. wants the world 10 know that its
membership is composed OF good
saunch American ciizens who propose
TO stand by President Wilson and the in
ternational union officials until the wage
question is adjusted in a business-like
manner. This union will take no part
in the walkout and viii continue 10
work like true Americans in order that
the war MAY be brought 20 an early
and successful consummation."
At Frackville yesterday John Nc
Ginnis and other citizens, who organ
lied the Home Defense League, ordered
pickets to either go home or go 10
work, pending the governments decis-
ion, under threat to have them interned
rs enemy aliens. The Threat was ef-
fuctive and the collieries in that section
worked today almost full-handed.
President James Matthew'S. OF the
Ninth District. yesterday said: "The
United Mine Workers OF America has
passed the experimental stage, but IL
members OF our union openly defy its
officers they are placing themselves in
opposition TO the government and are
making a serious mistake. Coal IS es-
sential TO win the war and we cannot
afford TO disobey the government; Il
we do, we will suffer much thereby"