Arizona republican., 1922-03-27
MINERS
FOR
NATION WIDE
STRIKE
Gompers Says Operators
Forcing Strike On Min
ers BY Autocratic Atti-
tude On Wage Question
,TRepublIcsn a. p. Leased wirsl

withstanding the coal strike impend-
ing in union fields on April /. btu
minous coal production dropped off a
trifle during the week ending March
Is, the last full week reported by the
geological survey. The total output
during the seven days period preced-
ing that date was 10,7S4,000 tons,
against 11,115,000 tons during the
previous week, and $4,000 tons dur
ing the week of March is, 1921.
in spite of the decrease" the sur
vey statement said, the output so
far exceeded estimated consumption
as to provide nearly 100000 tons for
consumers stock piles"
1t was added that preliminary tcle-
graphic returns for the first days OF
the week ending March 25, showed a
tendency toward return to recent
heavy production.
Previous weekly reports have shown
bituminous coal production mounting
steadily since last December, because
Of anticipation OF the Apri IL suspen-
sion of work in the union fields,
though consumption has been sub
normal The result indicated is a
surplus Of coal variously estimated
at upwards of 60,000,000 tons, ap-
the entire country.
Anthracite production for the March
Is week, however, was wen mann
tained." the survey said, with a total
OF 1907, 900 tons, compared with l.
6S7, 900 tons produced in the same
week year ago.
MINERS BLAME OPERATORS
WASHINGTON, March 26.-That
owners of coal mining properties,
both anthracite and bituminous, are
forcing a general strike in union
mines by their "autocratic attitude"
and that the reason for their atti-
tude can be found in domination OF
the coal industry by financial inter-
ests," were charges made in a state
ment issued today by Samuel Com
pers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor.
He supplemented these charges
with statistics which he declared
showed that real ownership of many
| bituminous coal properties lay in the
hands of the steel industry, while
anthracite mines were asserted to De
largely adjuncts to railroad opera
| tions.'
Mr.. Gompers asserted that control
| of the mines was thus taken ito an
effective degree from the hands OF
actual operating men and placed IN
the hands of financial interests" Coal
mines have become merely wheels IN
a great profit making machine" he
said, operated by men for whom all
| things must give way to profits"
AS to the anthracite fields, Mr..
| Gompers said congressional investi-
| cations and federal proceedings had
| disclosed "seven railroads controlling
| 96 per cent of the output" A result,
he asserted, was that profits from
coal operations are not found IN the
/ coal mine reports, but in dividend re-
| ports of the railroads, where they are
manipulated so as to appear mod
| crate, or at a loss, in order that
miners wages may be retained at The
lowest conceivable level
CONDEMNS ATTORNEY GEN ERAL
COLUMBUS, o.. March 26.-Decla-
ration that a coal miners strike could
have been ayerted had Attorney Gen.
eral Daugherty used his executive
powers to induce a mutual settlement
between miners and operators as he
| is now utilizing powers in making
| preparations to protect the interests
/ OF the operators" was made by Z.
Mott Hindall general chairman OF
the Order of Railway Clerks in the
employ of the Toledo and Ohio Cen
trail, Kanawha and Michigan; Kan
awha and West Virginia and Zanes-
Vile and western railroads; address
ing a meeting Of union railroad men
here today.
Mr.. Hindall also declared that the
attorney generals office, IN a recent
| statement, had made it clear that the
government would not interfere in the
strike, excepting to protect the gen.
eraI public but that although the
miners are a part OF the public" Mr.
Dausherty is daily sending large
shipments of government, rifles and
\ ammunition to national guard units
stationed in Athens and other large
towns in Southern Ohio.
SEEK NON UNION MINERS HELP
SPRINGFIELD, Ills, March 26.--
With ranks of union coal miners ol
the country unbroken and ready &c
strike at midnight March 81, Interna-
tional President John L. Lewis OF the
United Mine Workers of America, al
his home here tonight. declared MS
headquarters in Indianapolis is await
ing the first response to the sinvita-
ton extended 200,0 600 non- union min
ers to join in the nation wide walk
out.
President Lewis indicated he ex'
pected favorable action upon the in
vitation. but coal operators here, ir
touch with the situation. secuted th'
idea.
The call to non union workers t'
ioin the United Mine Workers o.
America in its strike was authorized
at the conference in Cleveland Fri
day, and the calls are to be sent ou
from district headquarters in th'
states where the non union forces arr
strongest - Virginia, West Virginia
Pennsylvania, Alabama, Kentucky
Tennessee, Colorado and New Mexico