Arizona republican., 1921-11-02
MINERS T()
 STRIKE F.
 CONTRACT ASIDE:
Strike of Coal Miners h. evitable If Operators Heed Injunction Against .Check-off of Union Dues AWAIT FINAL ORDER Union Officials Regard Strike as Only Weapon of Organization to En- force Mine Contracts,
[Repub.lcan A. p. Leased wIrel

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. LA na- tionwide strike of coal miners seemed inevitable tonight if operators heed the injunction issued by Federal Judge A. E. Anderson, which pro- scribed the check off of union dues.
 A telegram sent late today from headquarters of the United Mine Workers after it had been definitely learned that the injunction was not yet in effect, advised union officials to regard discontinuance of the check off as being the existing wage agree ment-
 The telegram, signed by President John l.. Lewis, Vice-president Phil lip Murray and Secretary William Green said:
 Any abrogation or setting aside of any part or section of this agree ment. including the section provid- ing for the checking off of dues and assessments can not be regarded as other than a violation of the agree ment and should be treated accord ingly by the district officers and local unions."
 It was said authoritatively that the international officers regarded the strike as the unions only wea- pon to- force a contract The tele- gram was sent to officials in IS states, where the check off provision obtains and where 350.000 of the 55o,- 900 union miners are employed
 The telegram said:
 As a result of the disagreement between the United Mine Workers of America and the coal operators in the fall Of 1919, it was suggested by the government of the United States that the miners and operators sub init all their differences to a com mission appointed by the president. said commission to have full author 1 ity to render an award. The United Mine Workers agreed to this pro gram and the commission in due | time rendered an award which they decided must be written into the | form of an greement by and between | the coal operators and the United l Mine Workers to be in effect until | March 31, 1922. Following rendi- i ton of this award by the United J States bituminous coal commission. | functioning under governmental authority, the president in a letter addressed to the coal operators and the United Mine Workers com manded both sides to meet in joint conference and duly execute such agreement as directed by the bitum- inous coal commission. This was done and the agreement was duly signed in New York. March 31. 1920.
 It is, therefore, obvious that said ! joint agreement can not be modified or changed in any of its provisions until it's expiration, March 31, 1922. Any abrogation or setting aside of
 any part or section of this agree
 ment. including the section provid-
 ing for the checking off of union dues
 and assessments. can not be re-
 garded as other than a violation of
 the agreement and should be treated
 accordingly by the district officers
 and local unions within your juris-
 diction." 4
 States into which the message was
 sent were Pennsylvania, Ohio. West
 Virginia, Illinois. Indiana. Missouri
 Kentucky, Michigan, Iowa. Kansas.
 Oklahoma, Arkansas. Texas. Wyom
 ing, Montana and Washington. Wait Final Action
 Dispatch of the message followed conference between union chiefs and ! counsel. However, there was no
 indication that any action would be
 taken at union headquarters to pre-
 cipitate a strike until after Judge
 Anderson had declared his order
 was not yet effective. He amended the order to provide that 1t was 1 not in force until after the Border . land Coal corporation complainant
 Tn the lnluuGIlOn SuAls AAu A4ttu
 bond indemnifying defendants for - damages that might result from any ! l acts under the injunction in case Of . a reversal of his decision Counsel . agreed that $1.OOO bond was suffi s cient.
 I Previously counsel for both oper- f ators and the union had agreed tc s hasten an appeal with the hope Of avertinC any considerable walkoui :, and 1t was learned that operators ! had assurance that the internationaI officers would seek to prevent a -- closing of the mines.
 While preparations for the appeal
 were being made. reports from the
 Indiana coal fields were that fiVt E mines were idle in protest against 70 the injunction and union officials r. t Terra Haute were considering Q formal issuance of a strike ordel
 More than 500 men were employ ee at the Indiana mines that closed q as n employees elsewhere in the coal flefs n were planning meetings
 Counsel for the union of oDeratot' Do will appear. tomorrow before Judst Anderson for formal action appeal