The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-22
SWEEPING BAN
ON Use OF COAL
Fourth Week of IdIeness Of
Miners Sees Many Indus
tries Close.

Chicago. Nov. 22.--Additional shut
downs of industrial plants, mainly in
the central west, today were in pros
pect as the striking bituminous coal
miners began their fourth week of
idleness and the operators miners
wage scale conference at Washing
ton apparently remained deadlocked.
More encouraging reports from West
Virginia, Colorado and the state of
Washington were received, but from
the other soft coal fields no indica-
ton came OF an intention to resume
work. With the supply being short
however, it was agreed
among officials that If disaster was
to be ayerted something must be
done quickly to add TO the relatively
small quantity of fuel now being
brought out.
In that connection it was pointed
out that the shortage probably would
not be relieved Immediately, an agree
ment at Washington by the wage
scale conferees, as the miners. before
returning to work generally might
await approval of a convention of
union delegates to be summoned after
the settlement terms were announced.
Indiana Hard Pressed.
Indianapolis.-Swe curtailment
of the use of coal and electric power
has become necessary In Indiana to
prevent complete suspension of in 1us-
try within a short time, and to ac-
complish this end half-time operation
of all manufacturing plants in In
dianapolis probably will become ef-
fective next week.
Strike Hinges on Conference.
Charleston, w. Va.--The possibility
of renewed strikes in the coal fields
of West Virginia apparently hinges
upon action of the operators and min
ers' conference at Washington. ac-
cording to reports from the mining
regions.
Fred S. Mooney, district secretary
treasurer of the United Mine Work
ers, said today the union men who
had returned to work following the
resembling of the strike order would
come out again Monday or Tuesday
next unless the representatives of the
miners and operators at Washington
came to some agreement before that
time. THE miners are tired of wait
ing" said Mr. Mooney. Grievances of
individual bodies of miners are also
playing part in keeping the men
from returning to work, reports
reaching here indicate.
Pittsburgh. Nov. 22.-There is every
evidence that industrial and domestic
consumers of coal are needing the
warning of the Pittsburgh coal dis
tribution committee of the United
States railroad administration to con-
serve fuel, and thereby avert a fuel
famine in the district, authorities here
said today. Warnings have been is
sued by the committee from { ne to
time since it developed that the dis
trict could not rely upon outside
source for its fuel supply.
There is materially less coal COM
ing into Pittsburgh now than there
was a week ago, because hundreds
of carloads of fuel have been di-
verted froE. is district to points
west of the Mississippi. it is said
Will Not Interfere.
Des Moines. Ia, Nov. 22.--While
miners will not aid in loading coal
cars at Pershing. II, they will not
interfere with others doing it, Joe
Morris, vice president of the Iowa
district Of the United Mine Workers
of America, notified Gov. Harding to-
day.
Morris statement was intended as
n reply to the request made upon
Gov. Harding late yesterday by Atty
Gen. II. NJ Havner, who asked that
troops be sent to protect citizens who
had volunteered to load coal cars with
coal mined before the strike was
called.