The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-05
COMPANIES INSTRUCT
 THEIR EN1PLOYES TO QUIT MEXICO
Neus Summary
 of Coal Strike

Another HtandStiu in plans looking to an end of the soft coal miners strike marked the thirty-fourth day of non-production of coal in most union mines of the nation, as the gov ernment prepared for grand jury in vestigatien at Indianapolis and prose cution of miners, operators others for violation sf the federal injunction or for obstruction of production in vie ation of the Lever act.
 The mines that have been idle vfr- tualIy all of the time since the strike started, November 1, continued so ale though for two days there have been bers of men in scattered localities. Production had increased somewhat. 1t appeared, but in much of khe nation the reserve stocks were being reduced 60 rapidly that . virtual famine exist- ed in many communities of a number of states and drastic acttsa was taken by railroad and fuel officials.
 The most drastic order of the day was that for n reduction iA railroad passenger service of one-thtrd in "frniu miles,, In the north central and south western raiirond regions. The order means cancellation of more trains, cur taiIment of luxury equipment and inc crease of cars for trains remaining in service. There is to kc no suspension of express or mail trains, however. Industries continued ta close, more rigorous conservation rules were made in many states and cities. and num- ber of state executives took action inc tended to aid in relieving the acute shortage.
 While the larger miniag corporations announced at Washington that they hnd agreed to pay the mixers slightly more than the 14 per cent wage ad- vance promulgated by Fuel Adminis- trator Garfield, the operators were said to be awaiting the result of the gov ernment's legal action nt Indianapolis. |. c. Wells, editor of coal trade pubficatio announced in Chicago that private advices from Washington were | to the effect that operators were con- stdering a 2J per cent advance to the
 miners, elimination of Dr. Garfield's plan, and an ndy ance In cost of about 90 cents n ton to consumers. No an- 1 Bouncement of confederation of such plnn was made in Washington. Governor Gardner of Missouri an- nounced the seizurc by the state of 15
 mines. Mining with volunteers under
 troop protection. similar to the system
 used in Knnsns, will be undertaken. Governor Cox called n mcetiuE fer
 tomorrow of miners and operators in an effort to settl~ the strike in Ohio.
 Governorx skoup of coioraho~ sMcH<~l-
 vic of Nebraska. and Carey of wyom- l sne, at n conference in Denver, called on the national fuel standardization to appofnt administrators in each state.
 the same request made ny governors of seven states in conference in Chicago
 last Sunday.
 Governor Sleeper of Michigan sought
 to arrange m opening of mines n vance temporarily, ansy further increase | to await final settlement. Operators
 agreed thnt coal mined under such an | arrangement would not be skipped from
 Michigan.
 | volunteer miners under troop pro-
 tection will start work today in Okla
 homa.
 | Kansns volunteers were hawpered by | rnin that froze ns 1t fell. The gover-
 nor has received word thnt n fuel fam
 inc exists in 75 Kansas towns. Munich l nal wood piles are in operation in many
 loealitie~-
 | At Billings. Mont, schools and the atres. were ordered closed and stores
 went on a seven-hour basis. John C. Lewis, president, and John | Gay, secretary of the Iowa district of mine workers, were arrested cita-
 tions of contempt issued af Indinnapo-
 oIks.
 | State troops were ordered withdrawn ! from the Triuidad. Col. district today. l Non-esrebtinl industries generally 1 are cut off from zIl fuel except enough to prevent fire and freezing. 1 The Chicago packers were ordered l to arrange for common cold storage plant and shut down others. l Denver adopted drastic restrictions | on business and industry similar to
 those ordered In Chicago yesterday.