Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-26
COAL MINERS STRIKE
SPELLS BIG DISASTER
Production of 11,5OO,OOO Tons of Btu
minous Weekly Needed to Meet
Demands of Country.

| there is coal to be had in his neighbor'
hood.
| Even today bidders for coal in the
non-union fields and mines are making
promises Of large prices for coal. They
are willing to contract for the coal or
almost any terms.
Non-Union Mines Factor.
These same non-union fields and
mines will be factor in the situation
! If the strike takes place, but how much
of factor remains to be seen. Many
of the non-union mines are located in
the south, where negro labor is en-
ployed, but non-union mines are found
scattered through many parts of the
country, some of them in West Vir-
GINA. and other eastern states, and
some in the west. The estimate that
one-third of the bituminous mines are
non-union leads to the further esti-
mate that about one-third of the pro-
mines, and will not be affected by the
strike. But if two-thirds of the coun-
try's supply of bituminous coal is cut
on by the strike. the other one-third
will be utterly inadequate to meet the
situation.
Undoubtedly. the non-union mines
Will be worked as never before, and
their production will be greatly in
creased. but they will not be able to
meet the situation. At the present
time the representatives of the Unit
ed Mine Workers of America are MAX
ing desperate efforts to unionize every
mine in the country. too. They are
hoping that when the, union mines
shut down. the non-union mines in
large part will follow suit. 1t is said
that where union mines are located
near the non-union mines. threats as
well as arguments are being used to
force the -non-union men into line.
From present indications. it will be
the public that will suffer tremen-
dously If the strike takes place. where
as the miners and the mine operators,
at least for some time, will not be so
hard hit. Both the miners and the
mine operators have been making
money lately and they can stand a
shutdown of the mines. 1t is said.
Public May Force Issue.
It seems. therefore. that the dura-
ton Of the strike, or at least of the
shutdown of the mines, is likely to be
the duration of the endurance of the
public. The public, the mine workers
and the operators might as well I'M
derstand. will stand just SO much
hardship and freezing and then is
likely to take matters into it's own
hands. and demand that the United
States government intervene, even to
the extent of running the mines. It
may be that the government will not
wait. but will seek to avert the freez-
ing and starving of the people by
acting almost Immediately after the
strike begins. It seems probable in
any event that the federal govern
ment will give protection to any mine
which seeks to operate during the
strike.
At present there is little or no SYM
pathy expressed by the public for the
mine workers. The rest of the work.
ing world regards the mine workers
demand for a thirty-hour working
week-fve days and six hours a day
as excessive. The demand for a go
per cent increase in wages also is
considered excessive. Then the man
ner In which the demands of the min
ers have been submitted, without any
attempt at negotiation, not only has
| disguised persons who really believe
| In collective bargaining. but has CIV
| en- the enemies of that principle q
| weapon with which to strike at or.
ganized labor.
| In the past there have been strikes in
the bituminous coal fields, some Of them
serious strikes. but never a nation wide
promises to be. But never before have
contracts been so arranged in the differ
ont fields so that all end at one time, al
now. During the war an agreement
| was reached, through the Offices of the
government, whereby the miners were
to be paid certain scale of wages
until April 1. 1920, unless the Presi
dent should declare the war at an enc
! prior to that date. While the war Is
| Continued on Third Page)