Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-11-14
WATER FILLS MINES
AS ENGINEERS QUIT
Editor of Mining Journal Says
That Strike Is Still
On.
AWAIT CONFERENCE ACTION
Asserted Order Calling Off Walk
out Was Issued Under Com
pulsion and Illegal.
AWAIT CONFERENCE ACTION
tBy Universal servicc I


CHICAGO. Nov. i5.--Rcports received
today from every important coaI-pro-
cuclnS state Of the country showed
miners did not return to work after
John l.. Lewis. acting president OF the
United Mine Workers OF America. re-
scinded the strike order Tuesday. Con-
ditions in some fields were alarming
because engineers and pump tenders
have deserted their posts. permitting
the mines to flood. The only hope for
early resumption of production was
that an agreement would be reached
at the Washington conference tomor-
row. according to operators here.
The strike is still on" said Andrew
T. Murphey. editor OF Black Diamond
and high authority on tho coal in
dustry. tonight. The miners have
taken the position that the order re-
scinding the strike was issued by Mr
Lewis under compulsion. that 1t is
therefore illegal and they refuse TO
obey it," he said.
Mr.. Murphey displayed kilograms
from mining districts throughout the
country to bear out his statement.
His reports showed none of the men
nave gone back to work in highly or
ganized mining districts. y few min
ers returned in West Virginia, where
there arc about an even number or
union and nonunion miners.
Reports From Mine Fields.
II have received reports from some
Of the most important mine. producing
districts showing the engineers and
pump TENDERS ten S have deserted serted their
tha, mines viii hood within forty
eight hours, and bring about con-
dition that will mako coal mining i'm
Sas for bsa shTes to four
displayed a telegram from correspon-
dent in Central Illinois telling of con-
THE radical element among the
miners is keeping the men from work. ;
il said. About i5 per cent of the
miners here want to return to work.
but the malcontents wouldnt, let them.
l don't think any coal will be pro-
duccd III this district for a long time"
Freeman Thompson. president or the
union. said none OF the men had re-
turned TO work The mine workers
VIII stand pat for living, wage. SIX.
word given out at headquarters.
Wood VIII Investigate.
Major General Leonard Wood left
in Yves, Virginia. 1t was said he had
been ordered to make tho inspection
by Secretary of War Baker. Accord
ing 10 reports from West Virginia,
violence. and u serious situation had
developed.
From Indiana came reports that
mines In that state remained idle. a
few small mines were producing, bu:
the big mines were inactive. Prac-
tically the Same reports were received
from the Ohio fields. Conditions in
Kentucky were reported about the
same as yesterday.
The North Dakota situation was i'm
proved. Reports indicated Governor
Frazier's action in taking over the
mines and granting the mine owners
a royalty OF Is to 25 cents on each
ton mined had been satisfactory to the
miners, and most of them were re-
turning to work
Coal Supplies Depicting.
Coal supplies throughout the coun-
try we're being depleted at an alarm
ing rate. according to reports received
by operators here. Some grades of
coal will be exhausted in Chicago
within week, and supplies of retail
concerns will be gone before Dccem-
ber l. Public utilities and industrial!
plants have supplies to last them from
two weeks to Two months.
Western railroads have confiscated
coal and conserved supplies to an eN-
tent that will permit them to operate
trains without serious interruption
from six weeks TO three months. ii
was Said