Imperial Valley press., 1922-07-19
ENGINEERS TO
WALK OUT
Mines Will Be Allowed to
Fill With Water Under
Open Shop
GOMPERS PROCLAIMS
Governors Recognize Call Of
President AS National
Emergency

WASHINGTON, July 19.--Govern-
test of strength with the 100000 strik-
ing coal miners.
With directing the governors of the
% coal producing states to protect the
mines of all operators willing to re-
sume coal production, President Hard
ing has thrown down the gage of bat
tie to the United Mine Workers OF
America, probably the most powerful
single body of organized workers in
the country.
Should the presidents g plan fail to
bring about large increase in coal
production within a short time, there
will be but one course open to the
vernment--seizure and operation of
the mines.
In his call upon the 90 governors,
Harding has in effect ordered the mo-
bilization of more than 100000 arm.
ed men, it is estimated, including po-
lice and deputy sheriffs.
National Guard and federal troops.
Should the trouble be too widespread
for control of these forces, the govern
ment will induct National Guards OF
noncoal producing states into the fed.
eral service and detail them to duty in
the coal producing states.
Governors Promise Cooperation
NEW YORK, July 17-Governors Of
the principal coal producing states in
the country moving to act i'll response
to the president 8 call, outlined to the
United Press today in a series of ex-
elusive statements, their plans to meet
the impending crisis.
A majority of the governors indi-
Gated the keenest appreciation of the
gravity of the situation. Several de-
clared their belief that national
emergency was at hand and that no
steps would be left untaken to "pre-
serve order"
cit is our duty to do all that we can
to avert dangerous crisis - wired Gov.
ernor Sproul of Pennsylvania.
"Unless production of coal is i'm
mediately resumed, Maine will face
real crisis,'' declared Governor Bax-
ter.
Assurance that they would use all
the powers of their states in giving pro-
lection to mine operators in reopening
the mines in compliance with President
Harding's request were received from
six other governors at an early hour
at the White House today.
These responses were from Governor
Morrow of Kentucky; Kendall, Iowa;
McCray, Indiana; Hardwick, Georgia;
Hart, Washington; Mechem, of New
Mexico; Davis, Ohio.
Will Pay Wages Of 1917
PITTSBURG, July 10. Western
Pennsylvania coal operators today ac-
cepted the president 8 invitation to
open mines under protection of state
police and national guards.
The operators decided to resume
operations in the Pittsburg district at
wages in effect in November 1917.
The new wage scale, according to
the announcement of the scale COM
mittee of the Pittsburg Producers Asso-
citation will be S. day for eight hours
worked by laborers; 20 cents ton for
machine coal and S764 cents ton for
picked coal.
The practice of collecting union
dues and assessments, known as tho
"check off, will be abolished.
All Union Men Will Strike
WASHINGTON, July 19.-President
Harding's plan to force increased coal
production, despite the strike of 900
miners by attempting to operate union
mines with strike breakers working
under troop protection, received
sharp setback today.
Ofsieials of the United Mine Work
ers served notice on government Of
ficials that any attempt to send strike
breakers to the closed shop mines will
result III strike of the union engin-
GERS, pump men and other workers now
working to prevent the mines from
(Continued nm PAGE Eipht0