The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-04
STREET Rail WAY
MEN TO REFUSE
TO HAUL MINERS
State Arranges for Truck Lines
as Substitute.
Railway Administration De-
clares Coal VIII Be Moved.
MARTIAL LAW is THREATENED
Mist, Rain and Ice Hamper
Work of Volunteers.
EOre Coal Is Sent to Shivering
Homes in Kansas.
MARTIAL LAW IS THREATENED

Pittsburg, Kan. Dec. 4.-Employes
of the Joplin and Pittsburg street and
interurban railway will refuse to haul
any volunteer miners to work and
have asked permission of the national
officers OF their union for permission
20 refuse to haul coal mined by the
volunteers.
Refusal to haul the volunteers will
have no material effect on the situa-
ton as the volunteers are taken to
camp on trucks or steam railroads.
The tnterurban lines will not be called
on to transport coal cars, it is said.
According to Information in the
hands of the receivers three cars of
coal were ready to be moved today,
one car is at Gross at the Acme mine,
another car is at the Wilson mine at
the edge of Pittsburg and the third
Is In the Weir-Sca mmon field.
L have been advised by the region
al railway administrator that the rail-
roads will move the coal that has been
produced by the volunteers Gov.
Henry J. Allen announced today be
fore noon. The announcement by the
governor was development in the
transportation situation this morning
while the governor and the receivers
were awaiting the switching of a car
of coal at a mine near here where the
first coal was produced this week by
the volunteers.
Pittsburg, Kan. Dec. 4-Weather
conditions this morning made opera
ton of the Kansas strip pits practically
impossible. A misty rain that formed
ice as soon as it hit the ground was
falling.
Four Cars Not Moving.
That it may be necessary to declare
martial law in the state to move vol
unteer-mined coal, was intimated by
Governor Allen, when four cars of
coal taken from strip mines in this
district yesterday had not been sent
to their destinations early today
Should martial law be declared, the
coal Will be moved by the same agency
that mined it-volunteer labor under
protection of the state.
Railroads appear anxious to CO.
operate in the state operation of mines
and railway trainmen in a meeting late
Yesterday decided to pass up talk of
a local strike. However, refusal of
Santa Fe switching crew at From
tenac, near here to handle coal cars
blocked shipment of the much needed
fuel.
Governor Allen remained here today
to await final decision of the train
men. who say they fear the conse-
quences" if they move the coal.
At the conclusion of the conference
last night with the receivers, Governor
Allen stated that he would not call q
special session of the state legislature
altho It had been reported that he con-
templated such action.
The brotherhood Representatives
who wired their national Officers
Monday toT authority to refuse tc
handle the volunteer coaP' have re-
ceived a ruling that they will be re-
quired to haul the coal. IF the rail-
road men refuse to handle this coal
We Will declare martial law and move
the coal as we mined it by volunteer
labor" Governor Allen said.
Railroad men of Pittsburg at a mass
meeting to decide whether or not they
would refuse to handle coal mined
by volunteer workers decided to re-
main on the job, in compliance with
orders from national union officials
it was announced here tonight
Road Graders Arrive.
The first outfit of road graders will
arrive at Mulberry tonight, Governor
Allen said. The grading outfit viii
be USED to uncover coal in a regior
near Mulberry. The outfit is com
plete in itself-men and equipment
1t will be the first move in the state'
program of increasing the production
OF the strip pits over normal
Governor Allen this morning signed
contracts with ]. G. Miller Of pitts
burg and Mulberry. owner of the Ian,
where the outfits are to work
At the request of Governor Allen
Colonel Lewis, commanding the 60l
federal troops stationed here, thi
morning ordered a detachment of hi
soldiers to the scene of the new oper
ations.
Richard ]. Hopkins, attorney gen
eral of Kansas, arrived in Pittsbur1
this morning and conferred witt
James W. Finley, attorney for the re
ceivers, today over legal points in
volved in the receivership.
The receivers continued today t
labor with the intricacies of handlin
], the business of the dozens of minin
companies now in their hands Will
o. S. Hubert. the genFral-manag ger O
operations was engaged in gettin
shovel plants started.