The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-03
LEWIS SENDS
SHARP REPLY
TO ILLINOIS
Answers Accusations Of Presi-
dent of Miners by Saying He
is Only One Who Asked
Explanation.
WALKOUT is CONTINUED
(By Associated Press,

lNDlANAPOBIS, Nov. 3.-In answer
to the accusations of Frank Earring
ton, president of the Illinois miners
that officers of the international union
were trying to pass the buck" on call
ing strike. President John L. Lewis.
of the United Mine Workers, today
wired Mr.. Harrington that detailed in
structions" would be sent him as soon
as Illinois operators declared their in
tention to discontinue to check off"
Mr.. Lewis's message did not init
mate the nature of the instructions,
but it was said authoritatively that d
strike order would be included in
them.
The message of Mr.. Harrington ask
ed for specified instructions after call
ing strike. declaring willingness to
obey instructions.
Mr. Lewis said Mr.. Harrington, a
leader of the anti-administration
forces in the union, was the only union
leader in 16 states who received the
message, indicating a strike, to ask
an Interpretation of the original mess
age.
Sends Sharp Reply
Lewis's answer follows: II consid-
er it most unfortunate that you failed
to understand the telegram sent out
Nov. l by the international offices.
Of the IL district presidents to whom
this message was sent you are the
only one who has found it necessary
to ask for an Interpretation.
1T is seemingly apparent to all 9TH
or officers Of orr nrponizofinn in the
event the operators of any district Of
ficially abrogate an existing contract,
they thereby impair the validity of the
entire instrument When you are ad
vised that the coal operators of lii
nois intended to abrogate, nullify, vio-
late or set aside any part or section
of the district agreement, including
the check-off provision, notify this Of
flee, and full detailed instructions will
be Immediately sent you.
Are Marking Time.
Officials of the United Mine Work
ers said today that soft coal miners
throughout the country were marking
time in their protest strike awaiting
discontinuance by operators of the
checkoff as directed by federal court
Injunction.
Practically all the Indiana mines
were closed again today reports from
the coal fields indicating that $4,000
men continued their walkout in pro
test to the federal court injunction.
Pennsylvania operators in the Pitts
burg district, have given notice that
they will abolish the checkoff. but re-
ports from other coal states, received
at union headquarters here said the
operators had not announced their
policy.
Will Meet Tonight
A meeting of the Indiana Bitumin-
Gus Coal Operators association will
| be held at Terre Haute tonight at
which members have announced the
course of action to be taken by the
! operators as the result of the injunc-
| ton would be outlined. Officers of the
association have declared. however.
| the injunction would be obeyed and
1 notices of discontinuance of the check
! off system have already been prepared
! for posting at the mines.
| Miners from only a few locals of
| other coal mining districts of this
! country were reported as having fol-
| lowed the example of the Indiana min
| ers in striking, but officials at head
| quarters of the union here expect that
| the walkout will become general as
soon as the order discontinuing the
!! check-off system is put into effect.
! This may not occur for several days
in some of the districts, II was pointed
out, as there is expected to be some
delay before the provisions of the in
junction are put into actual operation.
Counsel for both the union and the
! operators were busy today in the
preparation of their appeal of the In
junction to the circuit court of ap-
| peals at Chicago and are expected to
/ make formal application for the appeal
before Judge Anderson either today or
tomorrow. Counsel said the applica
ton was only a perfunctory pro-
ceeding.
| TERRE HAUTE, Ind. Nov 3.-Re-
ports received this morning at district
headquarters of the United Mine
Workers in this city show that only
six mines are working today in District
No. II.
/, These mines are scattered through
out the district and none is a large
producer. President Hessler, District
II, is holding in abeyance the issue
of a formal strike order, and it was
stated at strike headquarters this
; morning that such a step likely would
not be necessary, as mine officials as
,, sert that in another day all mines iT
, the district will be closed.
Reports received here today state
that nearly all the mines in the Brazi
block coal field, adjacent to Terr'
Haute, while not affected by Ander
sons injunction writ, have closed II