The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-11-03
POLICY Of THE
UNION LEADERS
STILL IN DOUBT.
HUNDREDS OF CARS
OF COAL ARE SEIZED
Hundreds of Nom Union Mines
Continue the Production of
Non-Union Coal

CHICAGO. Nov. 2.--Informatjon Oh
tained from the bituminous coal fields
Of the United Statcs. IN which more than
400 900 members of the United Nine
Workers of America have been ordered
out on strike. tonight Indicated that
there would h" nothing which couio
check the momentum Of the walkout. de-
spite the temporary restraining order
which was issued Friday in the United
States district court ut indianapolis. de-
privcd OF tho directing hands ot It's
leaders as a result OF the injunction. thc
membership Of the union was prepared
TO enter the first full working day since
the strike order became effective in an
EFFORT to demonstrate it's ability to halt
tho production Of soft coal throughout
the nation.
The operators. so far as reports show.
have not yet made pians to combat the
strike, notwithstanding the fact that
troops. both federal and state, have bfen
sent in many instances TO localities from
which they might best guard the coal
properties in the contingency Of violent
efforts TO prevent non-union men from
taking the places Of the strikers. On IN"
! other hand, there has been no reported
picketing activity by members OF the
unions. Both operators and strikers ap-
parently had decided TO await develop
ments before either Of them takes \ fur
ther definite step in the controversy.
Seizure Of Coal
Rapor+e- from various railroad cer:ers
showed that seizure Of coal in transit. as
ordered hc the federal government. had
begun. Hundreds or coal laden cars IN
transit were taken over by regional di-
rectors Of the fuel administration ana
were sidetracked to await possible dis
tribution under the administration
priority schedule
Much interest was expressed by orer'
ators' representatives as 10 the exact
manner in which the restraining order
would be considered by union leaders
and their followers tomorrow: no imti.
strict obedience to the terms OF inc
! writ would he offered by the hands OF
the union. Rather was the CONJECTURE
based upon what orders. II any, 'hai
might cancel strike arrangements would
be given. and whether the men them
selves would obey such orders in event
Of their issuance. Some union dlStri"'
chairmen have publicly stated that me
strike movement has gone too far to hc
Influenced by any writs or 1nJunCtlnnS
whatsoever and insist that the walkout
will prevail in spite Of court proceed
dispute either that assertion or the
claims advanced by the unions as 10 the
total number Of men who had obeycd
the strike order Friday night.
Much Coal Produced
In taking stock of the situation today
SO far as production is concerned. opcr,,
ators pointed to the practically normal
production in the huge non-unlon mine
fields of West Virginia and PcnnSyl-
vania there being 100000 non-union
miners. broadly speaking. in those tw"
West Virginia operators maintained
! that in that state. soft coal production
was at fifty percent Of normal About
fifty percent Of Kentucky's 10000 union
miners also were at work yesterday
under contracts.
In Alabama, where the miners chiefs
said $4,000 Of tho $4,000 miners had
, walked out. operators. while not denying
tho figures, pointed to some of the larg-
cr mines of that state as still in opera
1ionl These claims left some confusion
which the operators thought would be
dispclled tomorrow.
In North Dakota. most of the $500
Ignite miners remained at work.
In Utah another confusing situation
prevailed. The majority Of miners re-
inained at work. 1t was reported. because
of conflicting statements that the strike
was off and that it was not off. At
least 1000. however. had struck, it ap-
pcared.
Coiorado's mining districts were larG-
ely closed down although the Colorado
, Fuel and Iron company reported flvc
mines In operation.
, Yesterdays reports said only 500 OF
the $500 miners in New Mexico had
struck.
Strike Effective
Elsewhere generally. especially in the
great bituminous fields of Pennsylvania,
West Virginia Ohio. Indiana and Illi-
nois where operated by union miners.
the strike apparently was fully effective.
cept for such men as the union permit
ted to remain to care for machinery and
other equipment.
The war department, II became known
yesterday, had ordered tho OGara mine.
near Springfield, Ill.,. which supplies
Camp Grant at Rockford, ILL.,. with coal.
10 continue operation. The company
was unable TO comply as the miners re-
mained away from tho mine.