New-York tribune., 1921-11-02
Union Leaders Telegraph
Men to Regard Agree
ment as Invalidated
by Order of Anderson
$4,000 Miners in
10 States Involved
Operators and Employees
to Hasten Appeal; Ohio
Mines Already Are Idle

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. / (By The
Associated Press)-A nationwide strike
of coal miners seems inevitable to-
night if operators heed the injunction
issued yesterday by Federal Judge A. B.
Anderson, which prescribed the "check-
off" of union dues.
A telegram sent late to-day from
headquarters of the United Mine Work
ers OF America, after it had been def
nitely learned that the injunction was
not yet in effect, advised union off,
cials to disregard discontinuance of the
"check-off" as breaking the existing
wage agreement and that it should be
treated accordingly
While no specific course Of conduct
for union officials was outlined by the
telegram, it was said authoritatively
that the international officers regarded
the strike as the unions only weapon
to enforce a contract. The telegram
was sent to officials in sixteen states
where the check-off provision obtains
and where 350,000 of the $4,000 union
miners are employed.
Telegram Sent to Union
The text Of the telegram follows:
"As result of the disagreement be-
tween 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 tha,
the miners and the operators submit al
their differences to commission ap-
pointed by the President of the United
States, said commission to have full
authority to render an award covering
every proposition involved. The United
Mine Workers agreed to this program
and the commission in due time rem.
dered an award which they decided
must be written into the form of ar
agreement by and between the Goa
operators and the United Mine Workers
of America, to be in full force anc
effect until March 81, 1922. Following
the rendition of this award by the
United States Bituminous Coal Com.
mission, functioning under govern.
mental authority, the President of the
United States, in letter addressed te
the coal operators and the United Mine
Workers of America, commanded botf
sides to meet in joint conference ant
| duly execute such agreement as di
rected by the Bituminous Coal Com
mission. This was done and the agree
ment was duly signed in New York Cit,
on March 81, 1920.
"It is, therefore, obvious that saic
joint agreement, honorably entered
into and executed in due form under
the direction of the Government of the
United States, can not be modified OF
changed in any of it's provisions unit
the date of its expiration, March 81
1929. Any abrogation Or setting aside
of any part or section of this agree
ment, including the section providing
for the checking off of union dues ant
assessments, cannot be regarded al
other than violation of the agree
ment and should be treated accordingl,
by the district officers and local unions
within your jurisdictions.''
Sixten States Involved
The states into which tho message
was sent were Pennsylvaui Ohio
West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Mis-
souri,, Kentucky, Michigan, Iowa. Kan
sas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Wyo
ming, Montana and Washington. TIL,
message did not go to officials of tn,
three anthracite districts in Pennsyl
nous districts, because the "check-off'
is not used there.
Dispatch of the message followed
a series of conferences between unio1
throughout the day. However, there
was no indication that any actor
would be taken at union headquarter: r:
to precipitate strike until afte,
Judge Anderson had declared that hi.
order was not yet effective. H,
amended the order to provide that i
was not in force until after the Bor
derland Coal Corporation, complain
ant in the injunction suit, had filet
a bond indemnifying defendants TO
damages that might result from any
acts under the injunction in case of
reversal of his decision. Counse
agreed that 900 bond was aufficien
to bind the complainant for any liza
bility.
Previously counsel for borh opera
tors and the union had agreed to hast
en- an appeal with the hope of avertins
any considerable walkout of workers
and at that time it was learned tha
operators had assurance that tn,
national officers would seek to preven
closing of the mines.
Mines Idle in Protest
While preparations for the appea
were being made, reports from The
Indiana coal field showed that fiv,
mines were idle in protest agains
the injunction. and union officials g
Ferre Haute were considering thi
CONTINUED on next page)