New-York tribune., 1921-11-04
Miners Seek to
Block or Evade
U.S.Injunction
With Thousands Outside of
Indiana Ready to Join the
Strike, Leaders Endeavor
to Retain the Check-Off
Sending Some Men Back
Declare Judge Andcrson's
Order Is Only State Wide;
Put War Up to Operators
Special Dispatch to The Tribune


INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 3.--With thou
sands Of miners in Ohio, Pennsylvania
and other states ready to join the coal
strike if operators in states outside
Indiana discontinue the "check-off" sys-
tenn in accordance with the Federal
injunction granted ON Monday, the
miners leaders here to-day took steps
to hold up the injunction or at least
to limit its scope. The miners hold
that the ruling is effective only in In
diana, and men who have struck in
other states have been instructed in
many cases to go back to work and not
strike until the operators abolish the
"check off" system. In Pittsburgh
$4,000 mon are to be called out Mon
day from mines where the injunction
has already been declared effective.
John W. Lewis, international presi-
dent Of the United Mine Workers Of
America, in telegram to Frank Far
rington, president of District 13, Illi-
nois, failed to say definitely whether
the international officers Of the union
want general strikes called If the oper-
ators in different districts refuse to
abide by the "check-off" agreement.
Mr.. Lewis said that the international
officers would send detailed instruc-
tions to the district officers whenever
the operators attempted to abrogate,
nullify, violate or set aside any part
OF the district agreements, including
the "check-off" provision.
Only One Asks Instructions
The telegram from Mr.. Lewis was in
answer to an inquiry from harrington.
asking definite instructions on calling
strike. harrington was the only ono
of the twenty-seven district presidents
to raise any question as to the inter-
probation Of the original message from
the international officials to the district
presidents, which said thst any abro-
CATION of the existing agreement be-
tween the operators and the coal
miners, including the check-off system,
could only be regarded by the district
officials as violation of the agreement
between the miners and operators and
should be SO treated by them and their
local unions.
harrington in his telegram inferred
that Lewis was passing the buck" and
ne called on Lewis to say whether the
international officers wanted Earring
ton to call strike of all the mine
workers in Illinois if Illinois operators
refuse to collect dues and assessKen nts,
as provided by the agreement.
Lewis pointed out that operators
who abrogate the existing contracts
thereby impair the validity Of the in
strument.
General Strike Considered
Lewis's answer is regarded here as
an indication that the international
officers arc considering, if not antici-
pating, a general strike in the central
competitive field among miners who
have the check-off system in case the
operators refuse to continue it. The
miners regard the strike us their only
effective weapon in the event of
violation of the agreement between
them and the operators.
Bernard r. Batty,, vice-president and
general manager Of the Vandalia Coal
Company, said to-day he could not be-
lieye that any operator would disobcy
the order issued by Judge Anderson.
He expressed the opinion that the
checkoff system would be abolished on
pay day, November 10. There was no
indication, he said, that the mines now
the injunction would be opened be-
tween this and pay day. He said the
present strike Of the miners in the
Idiara mines was not authorized and
that the check-off order had not YET
been actually put into effect by the
operators.
According to Mr.. Batty, out of about
800 mines in District IL, Indiana, only
sixteen arc in operation, and of this
number some are small and some are
cooperative, which the miners own
themselves.