The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-18
Hines PROPOSES
DRASTIC STEPS
Resort to National Freight
Embargo to Preserve Coal
a Possibility.

dwindling coal supply of the country
today were in prospect. Brought to
full realization Of the condition to be
faced should the approximately 400,-
900 bituminous coal miners who went
on strike more than two weeks ago
continue to remain idle. Walker d,
Hines. federal director-general Of
railroads. today was on his way here
to discuss with seven regional d.
rectors the placing Of national
freight embargo. Extensive mining
properties in Kansas today were in
the hands Of receivers to be operated
by the state and proceedings had
been requested against Ohio mines
that would bring them under state
control, along with the North Da-
kota Ignite mines.
Except for North Dakota, Wyom-
ing. and some Alabama and. West
Virginia mines, production through
out the country was reported as .lot
bettered since the initial day of the
walkout. The workers really were
said to be disregarding the strike re-
call order dispatched by John L.
Lewis, acting president of the United
Mine Workers or America. under or
der of the federal court, and to be
awaiting an agreement by the OPP
orators and miners leaders at Wash
ington.
Only Solution Open.
A genera. embargo is the only way
to. handle the situation, said r. II.
Ashton, director Of the northwest
railroad region.
1--WE have had 1t under constant
consideration. Immediate action is
necessary" he said. THE railroads.
which are vital to the life of the ma
tion, must be kept going"
Only from ten to twelve days sup
ply of fuel today was available for
railroads of the central western re-
gion, according to F. E. Clarity, as
sistant director of the area.
Besides Mr.. Ashton, the other di-
rectors who were to meet Mr.. Hines
upon his arrival here. were: Hale
Holden, central western region; A. I.
Hardin, eastern; l.. w. Baldwin,
Allegheny: b. f. Bush, southwestern;
B. l.. Winchell, southern, and N. d.
Maher, Pocahontas.
Reduce Passenger Service.
Should general embargo be
placed it would result in a large re-
duction of the present passenger ser.
vice, said Mr.. Ashton. Il think 1t
would be at least 40 per cent. of
trains running now" he added.
1.-THE tremendous seriousness of
the situation cannot be minimized.
The effect of the embargo would be
as far reaching as the fuelless days
of the winter of 1917-1S."
Meanwhile the situation in the
Tennessee Kentucky mines, where
many of the union workers had re-
turned after the strike formally was
called off, was further complicated by
a new walkout pending an agreement
by the miners operators conference
at Washington. ~
In Colorado, where the union min
ers were among the first to resume
operations. a strike effective Friday
was called unless all striking miners
were reinstated. Production in Colo
rado was reported as nearly normal.
Colorado Mines Closed.
Pueblo, Colo, Nov. 1S.-Coloradc
today faced second shutdown OF
it's coal mines through the ultimatum
issued by George o. johnson. district
president, United Mine Workers oi
America, calling out union men next
Friday, unless what he terms a
blacklist" o. union miners by the
Colorado Fuol & Iron company and
other concerns is suspended.
johnson declared certain unior
mi vain 70 fo
ment since the recall of the strike
order last week. He further charged
that they are required to sign ar
agreement to leave all disputes fol
settlement to the Rockefeller indus.
trial plan.
The latter accusation was admitted
by President Welborn, of the c. F
& l., though he denied there was any
discrimination against the men be.
cause of union affiliations.
Pennsylvanians Idle.
Pittsburgh Nov. 1S.-Central and
western Pennsylvania coal mines
were for the most part idle today
and according to both representatives
of the operators and the union. the
outlook for an immediate resumption
of operations is not bright. Union
leaders of the two fields have an
nOunCeu tnat tney cannot go DaCk tC
work until new wage scale has beer
signed.
Punsutawney, Pa, Nov. 1s.-six
hundred union miners who went to
work in the Florence mine. near here
today, promptly walked out when they
learned that Joseph Zuby. miner
had been fired on from ambush while
on his way to the pit.
Steel Mills Out of Coal.
Youngstown, o., Nov. 18.-Steel
mills of the Mahoning valley would
have to close within ten days under
a general freight embargo, officials
said today. The local fuel director
says the district has less than ten
days supply of fuel including domes-
tic supply.
Gin nm E.no orJ Tor Voor