The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-16
Mines Open Up Following
Peace Pact Yesterday.
Lewis Says He Expects Other
Operators to Sign.
CALLS MINERS SHOCK TROOPS
Despite Agreement a Big Coal
Shortage Is Coming.
Call Conference at Kansas City
to Discuss Southwest.

Pittsburg. Kan. Aug. 16--Con-
tracts have been reached with two
companies operating coal mines in the
Kansas district on the basis Of the
Cleveland agreement, George L. Peck,
president of district Il, announced
this afternoon. The mines employ
200 men and will resume work to-
morrow morning. They are not mem
bers of the southwestern association
George l.. Peck president of dis
trict IA, United Mine Workers, said
today that he would make agreements
at once with any independent oper-
ators in the Kansas district for the re-
sumption of work at the mines. The
agreements he said. would have to be
in conformity with the Cleveland
agreement
No negotiations would be conducted.
he said, with operators affiliated with
the Southwestern Interstate Coal
Operators association until after the
meeting proposed for Kansas CITY
tuesday.
Practically all of the big mines of
the Kansas field are operated by mem
bers of the association. But there is
a large tonnage from the "dinky
mines of the field and with these oper-
ators the Kansas union officials eX-
peCt to make agreements lmmedl-
ately.
Washington. Aug. 16.-Illinois and
Indiana coal operators who did not
take part in the negotiations at Cleve-
land TO end the nationwide mine
strike will come in with the other
operators and sign the Cleveland
agreement on Friday, according to OF
fiCial advices today to Secretary OF
Labor Davis.
The Illinois operators are expected
to sign in Chicago and the Indiana
operators in Terre Haute-
~.Fr for If
will be moved to lake ports this week
for trans-shipment by water to north
crn lake ports TO relieve the acute
fuel shortage in the middle northwest,
il was announced here today. ana
100000 tons will be moved next week
10 the same areas.
y coal shortage without parallel in
the countrys history will be witnessed
this winter, government authoripes
agreed today, despite the settlement
of the strike effected at Cleveland.
Gripping of industry may result
from fuel scarcity. reports indicated,
and suffering among household con-
Sumers may only he prevented by
rigid system of rationing. Future pro-
duction. even If mines soon begin pro-
ducinE at a normal rate. will not meet
the needs Of consumers, officials de-
clared.
Dig Coal Today.
Cleveland. Aug. 16.-Coal was cut
in the deep bituminous mines of Ohio
for the first time in twenty weeks fol-
lowing the signing of a new wage
scale by operators and miners in con-
ference here late yesterday Sole pro-
duction during the progress of the
strike has been confined to open pits.
The mines to resume operation were
the Maher properties and those of the
Lorain Coal & Dock Co. in the vicin-
ity of Belaire.
Early today. operators representing
a total tonnage of approximately co.
100000 had gned the new agreement.
This is about 10 per cent of the total
output of soft coal Half of this ton
mage is in Ohio and western central
Pennsylvania, a large amount from
northern West Virginia. and the rest
scattering from Indiana, Illinois and
Michigan.
Guards Ordered Home.
Governor Harry L. Davis, of Ohio,
today ordered all National Guardsmen
to return to their home stations from
the mine zones they have been
guarding.
Before leaving for Philadelphia.
John L. Lewis, president of the United
Mine Workers of America, declared he
expected large numbers of operators
not represented at the conference to
sign the agreement without delay. He
wired instructions to district chairmen
Of locals in districts covered by the
agreement TO resume operations at
once.
I esteem this conclusion of the
strike not only gratifying to the
United Mine Workers, who have
emerged from this great conflict with
signal honors. but to the American
people as we'll" Lewis said The
miners may be well termed the shock
troops Of America and this controversy
as their industrial Verdun."
The new contract continues the old
wages and working conditions. incIud-
ing the checkoff system of paying
union dues. 1t is effective until April
1, 1928, and provides machinery for
negotiation. but not for arbitrating
next years scale A convention of bi-
luminous operators and miners to be
held in Cleveland, October ,, for Sc
lecting a fact finding commission to
investigate the coal industry, is also
provided for in the agreement.
Othcr Settlements Expected
Chicago, Aug 16.-IIlinois mines
will be in full operation within ten
circles here today.
Settlement of the strike at Cleve-
land. so far as fields outside of Illinois
and Indiana are concerned, will be
followed by tentative settlements in
the great Illinois fields which will
send the men hack to the mines.
A conference between operators and
union lenders will be held here Friday
at which it is believed an agreement
will be reached.
Southwest Not Included.
Kansas City. Aug. 16.-CoaI op-
orators of the southwest will not be
bound by any agreement reached at
Cleveland in drawing up wage agree
ment for the Kansas. Missouri. Okla
homa. Arkansas fields. Harry n. Tay-
lor. president of the Southwestern