The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-10-15
ORDER 100000
MINERS TO WALK
OUT NOVEMBER |
Strike Call Issued Today by
John L. Lewis.
Say Half Million Coal Diggers
VIII Respond.
ISSUED IN DEFIANCE OF U. S,
Secretary Wilson Had Asked
Lewis To Delay Action.
Miners Chief to Capital Friday
Order No Violence.
ISSUED IN DEFIANCE OF U. S.
Secretary Wilson Had Asked
Lewis To Delay Action.

indianapolis, Ind, Oct. 15.-Four
hundred thousand coal miners were
ordered to strike November 1, in a
call issued today by John l. Lewis,
acting president of the United Mine
Workers of America.
The order affects practically all
bituminous miners in the United
States. 1t was issued following failure
of the union leaders and operators
representatives to get together and
settle wage demands made by the
miners.
Over Half Million VIII Quit?
Altho the order affects only 400, 900
men directly, it was announced at Of
fees of the United Mine Workers of
America that more than half a mil
lion will respond. In fields where la
Dor is only partially organized, it was
predicted non-union miners will walk
out with their co-workers.
The strike is the direct result of the
conference between miner and oper-
ator Representatives at Philadelphia
which adjourned Saturday without
reaching an agreement. At this con-
ference an effort was made to formte
late new wage scale and working
agreement.
The order was signed by John L.
Lewis, acting president, and William
Green, ecretary-treasurer of the
miners organization. 1t directs 1.-THE
members of our organization employed
in and around the mines of the btu
ninous coa1-producing districts with
in the jurisdiction of our organization
in the United States to cease the pro-
duction of coal at midnight on Friday,
October 81, 1919"
Order Property Be Protected.
The official strike call permits local
unions to assign "a sufficient num-
haT Of n a n
sure the proper care and protection of
all mining property, in conformity
with the provisions of district agree
ments'' It also urges that fullest CO.
operation be given the operator to pre-
vent injury to property and asserts
that under no circumstances should
this rule be violated or set aside by
local unions"
Lewis to Confer With Wilson.
Indianapolis. Oct. 15.-John L. Lew
is. acting president of the United Mine
Workers of America, today wired Sec
, rotary of Labor Wilson that he would
be in Washington at IL o'clock Friday
morning, October IT, for a conference
on the bituminous coal mine situation.
He announced, however. that in the
meantime the order calling on all
union bituminous coal miners in the
| country to go on strike November 1
would be mailed from the information
! al hea dquarters in this city to the four
| thousand local unions of the organ1za-
ton.
| The secretary's message asked Lewis
not to send out the strike call until
after the conference.
/ Railroads Have Ten-Day Supply.
! Washington. Oct. 15.-A strike of
| bituminous coal miners November 1
will catch railroads with only a ten
days supply of coal, according to data
| before the senate coal investigating
committee.
Coal men testified recently before
| the senate committee that a coal
shortage this winter was Inevitable
the statement being made before the
| strike vote of the miners had been
| taken.