The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-11-03
SOFT COAL MINE
STR|KEUNDERW WAY.
$4,000 Quit in Indiana and
WaIkout May Spread.
PROTEST ON CHECK OFF BAN
Union Officials Say Men in PennsyL-
Vania and Middle West Are Await
ing Decision of Operators.

Indianapolis, Nov. 3.-Spread of the
strike of soft coal miners into sixteen
states, where there are 100000 union
miners, was expected at headquarters
of the United Mine Workers of Amer
lea To develop as quickly as the oper-
atorS in those states decided to aban-
don the check-off which was proscrib-
ed by the injunction of Federal Judge
A. B. Anderson.
In protest against the injunction
$4,000 miners in Indiana walked out
and reports to officers of both union
and the operators showed only sixteen
of the 300 mines in the states at work.
No other reports were received at I'M
! ion headquarters, except one from
Illinois, where it was said the mines
were in operation.
No strike calls had been issued by
union officials in response to the tele-
gram sent from international head
quarters, advising that diScOntinuance
of the check-off was to be treated as
breaking the existing wage agreement.
Union officials here explained that
local officials in Pennsylvania, Illinois,
Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Missou-
ri, Kentucky, Michigan, Iowa, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, WyOm-
ing, Montana and Washington were
evidently awaiting decision of the Op-
orators regarding their stand on the
'heck-Off. In other cOal-prOducing
states the check-off does not apply.
The federal court injunction became
effective Tuesday with the formal
service of the writ by federal mar
shals, after Judge Anderson had APP
proved a bond given by the Border
land Coal corporation, complainant in
the injunction suit.
Counsel for both the union and Op-
orators were delayed in the prepare
ton of their appeal of the injunction
to the circuit court of appeals at Chi
20, but expected to make formal ap
plication for the appeal before Judge
Anderson. Counsel said the applica-
ton was only a perfunctOry proceed
ing.
The walkOut of the Indiana miners
was not authorized by the district I'M
ion officials, but they were consider
ing the strike order anticipating an
early notice from the operators that
the check-off had been abolished.
Counsel for the operators, however.
had prepared the notice and the op-
orators had been called to meet at
Terre Haute.
Manufacturers, railroad officials and
consumers here took inventory of
their coal supplies, which were found
to be limited. Union officials said min
ers, other than in the PENNSYLVANIA
anthracite districts, had worked half
time or less since January 1 and that
reports indicated that the soft coal
production for the year was 100000
600 tons short of the average output
of the last four years.
Production also was said to be So
100000 tons behind that of 1919, which
also was described as a year of de-
preston in the coal industry.
P. H. Penna, secretary of the Indi-
ana BituminOus Coal Operators AS
ISOLATION, in a statement took issue
with President John L. Lewis and 9TH
er union officials whether obedience
Of the injunction would result in vfo-
latiOn Of a contract between miners
and operators, asserting that the con-
tract provided that both parties were
bound by any decision of a federal
court