Norwich bulletin., 1919-11-03
REPORTS OBTAINED FROM
 BlTUMlNOUS COAL FIELDS

Chicago, Nov. 2.-Information ob- tained from the bituminous coal fields of the United States. in which more than 100000 members of the United Mine Workers of America have been ordered out on strike. tonight indicat- ed that there would be nothing which could check the momentum of the walkout despite the temporary re- straining order issued Friday in the United States district court at Indian apolis. Deprived of the directing hands Of its leaders. as a result of the in junction, the membership of the union was prepared to enter the first full working day since the strike order be- came effective in an effort to demon strate it's ability to halt the production of soft coal throughout the nation.
 The operators, so far as available reports show, have not yet made plans to combat the strike. notwithstanding the fact that troops. both federal and state, have been sent in many in- stances 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 the other hand, there has been no reported pick citing activity by members of the un- ions.
 Reports from various railroad cen- ters showed that seizure of coal in transit, as ordered by the federal gov- ernment, had begun. Hundreds of coal laden cars in transit were taken over by regional directors of the fuel ad- | ministration and were sidetracked to | await possible distribution under the | administrations priority schedule
 Much interest was expressed by op- eFatOTS' rpnrpSpntativeS to fho avo oot manner in which. the restraining order 1 would be considered by union leaders and their followers tonf0rrow. NO in . tlmation was made that anything but strict obedience to the terms of the writ would be offered by the heads of the union. Rather was the conjecture 1 based upon what orders, if any. that might cancel strike arrangements would be given. and whether the men i themselves would obey such orders ill | event of their issuance.
 l In taking stock of the situation to- i day, so far as production is concerned
 operators pointed to the practically normal production in the huge non- union mine fields of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, there being abudt 1ss 900 non-union miners. broadly speaking, in | these two states. West Virginia oD- orators maintained that in that state soft coal production was at 50 per cent
 Of normal. About % per cent. of Ken tucky's 10000 union miners also were at work yesterday under contracts. | in Alabama, where the miners chiefs
 said 23,000 of the 26.000 miners had walked out. operators. while not deny- ing the figures. pointed to some of the
 larger mines of that state as still in ] operation.
 In Utah another confusing situation prevailed. The majority of miners re-
 mained at work, it was reported. be-
 cause of conflicting statements that ] the strike was off and that it was not
 off. At least 1000. however. had
 struck, it appeared.
 Elsewhere generally especially in the
 great bituminous fields of Pennsylva.
 mia, West Virginia. Ohio. Indiana and ! Illinois where operated by union min.
 CTS. the strike apparently was full,
 effective. The mines generally were
 closed except for such men as the un.
 ion permitted to remain to care fol
 equipment.