The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-03-10
VOL. XXXIV
BREACH THREATENED
IN Miners RANKS
Illinois Union To Deal Sep
arately If No Confer
ence Is Held.

st Louis. Mar. S.--The union coal
miners of Illinois will enter into in
dependent negotiations with the coal
operators of the State, unless an in
terstate conference is arranged or
in prospect by April !. This defiance
TO the edict of the United Mine Work
ers of America was decided upon at
a meeting of the State executive
board of the Illinois miners union.
held here today.
A tremendous breach in the ranks
of the international union with re-
sultant weakening in the strike that
seems imminent in the Pennsylvania
and Ohio fields Is now threatened.
The Illinois miners def to the fiat
of the international union was en-
bodied in a lengthy telegram sent by
Frank Harrington, State president, to
Secre,ary-Treasure William Green
of the United Mine Workers at In
dianapolis. Harrington told Green
very plainly that the Illinois union
will not agree to any drifting poll
cy. calculated only to produce "a sus-
pension of work on April l." He he'd
previously assured Green that 1--WE
shall continue to cooperate so long
as there is any hope of bringing
about an interstate conference"
harrington informed Green that. in
the opinion of the Illinois Miners Elk
ecutive Board, the action of the In
tfernational Executive Board in tele-
graphing him that the Illinois miners
could not negotiate a separate agree
ment was "presumptuous and imper-
tinent."
Harrington denied the authority OF
the international body to make rul-
ings in the natter
Little Hope OF Averting Strike.
Indianapolis. March s. Officials
of the United Mine Workers are
hopeful today that strike OF
bituminous coal workers April may
vet be averted. But in the same
breath they admit there is little
ground for hope that suspension OF
operations will not ensue upon ex-
piration of the present wage agree
ment three weeks hence.
1.-The whole thing rests with the OPP
orators" one union official said to-
day. explaining that if the mine own
ers, now divided by the refusal of
certain powerful groups to enter in
to negotiations with the miners, once
get into conference with the inten-
ton of concentrating an agreement,
speedy adjustment can be made and
cessation of mining operations avoid
ed. Thus far, however, there has
not been the slightest indication of
any intention of the operators to re-
cede from their "stand pat" attitude.
'NO conference; no agreement
then astrike," was the way Presi-
dent John l.. Lewis of the mine work
ers summed up the situation.
Strike ballots unofficially report
ed almost Unanimously io'oiihb
walkout in April in the event wage
contract is not affected continued
pouring into union headquarters, but
a canvass will not be made until Fri
day If even then.
Meanwhile the union executive
board continues in session. Today, in
addition to discussing strike plans,
il considered International diff
culties, bred of Frank Farrington's
attitude regarding a possible sepa-
rate wage agreement in Illinois.
"It is utterly impossible for Far
rington to make separate contract,
said a high union official in dispos-
ing of the fractional strife. The IL
Iinois miners and operators may
meet, but they cannot make a sepa-
rate agreement that will stick
Hopes To Bring About Farley.
Washington, March S.-With the
strike vote of the bituminous coal
miners rising higher and higher the
administration today renewed its ef-
forts to bring about conference be-
tween the operators and miners to
avert the threatened strike on April
1. Secretary of Labor Davis con-
ferred during the day with his aids
who are familiar with the soft coal
situation.
Beyond saying that he hoped to
hiring about the desired conference
secretary Davis was silent regarding
the steps that are being taken. The
menace of soft coal strike, which
is daily growing greater, is causing
concern in official circles and Secre-
-, T,avis is axnected TO bring strong