Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-01
NoN-UNIoN STAND IN DOUBT.
Union Leaders Predict, However,
That $4,000 Will Join.

By the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH. April mo off1siA.
estimate Of the number Of union min
ers in the western Pennsylvania
bituminous coal district, who left
from either HEADQUARTERS of district
No. 5. United Mine Workers. or from
the Pittsburgh Coal Producers Asso-
citation, controlling about rs per cent
Of the output of the district. Today
marked the celebration of the eight
by the miners as q holiday, and the
operators took the ground that they
would, on that account, be- unable
to determine the extent of the walk
out before Monday.
Miners officials expected. however.
and the operators did not contradict
the prediction, that some $4,000 union
men in the western Pennsylvania
field and $4,000 more in the central
Pennsylvania territory would Join
the suspension. So far as could be
learned early today, these men quit
their posts before midnight yester-
day. The greatest doubt conferred
who would join the movement in the
vicinity, comprising mines in Clear
field county and surrounding terri
tory. No statement was forthcoming
from union headquarters in Green's
burg. from which q call had been sent
non-union men to strike with the or
ganized miners.
Twenty thousand was the number
of union men estimated to have sus-
pended work in Clearf1eld, Elk and
n, in the e,o Dubois
ers predicted that 10000 non-union
workers would be with them by
Monday.
Plan "Open Shop"
From Morgantown,s w. Va, came
word that more than 100 mines had
been closed by the walkout Oper-
ators OF this district have announced
that they would reopen on an OPEN
shop basis. but no work was ex-
pected to be done today. according
to statements from both camps. The
appearance at this city of four blaz-
ing crosses against the sky from hill
tops last night startled the populace,
but no significance. was attached to
1t. SO far as the mine strike is con-
cerned. Five thousand miners from
the district will attend a meeting to-
day at Star City. six miles away.
Reports from Wheeling, W. Va,
concerning activities in Belmont and
neiehborins counties in Ohio. across
the river, showed that about 1900
men were out of the mines. Charles
ton, W. Va, reported that 10000
union men left their jobs last even
ing, tools in hand. The strike began
quietly in Clarksburg, but no figures
on the number of strikers were avail
able last night. Here, too, some
operators were credited with having
offered to resume operations on q
non-union basis, but the result was
in doubt. Beck1ey union officials
were unable to estimate the result Of
the strike order, but felt safe in say
ing that in the New River field the
suspension would be 100 per cent
complete, and in the Winding Gulf
area about IS per cent effective,
since a large number of non-union
men are employed in the latter.
These the union leaders are attempt
ing to organize. officials Of the New
River company said they expected q
cessation In the Raleigh county
mines, but not in those in Fayette
county.
There was nothing to indicate that
the walkout had been anything but
orderly at all points, and wherever
union mon were employed ample
forces to man the pumps and fans
and otherwise protect the mines were
left at their posts when the sus-
pension took place.
Urged 10 RE oRnEprv