South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-15
UNION LEADERS
REJECT EFFORTS
TO END STRIKE
Refusal of Harding Proposal
Affects Anthracite and BIZ
luminous Fields.
L. 5. MAY RUN MINES
White House Intimates Presi-
dent May Step in and Take
Over Properties.

WASHINGTON. July IA prac-
ticaI certainty existed Friday night
that the United Mine Workers OF
America. viii refuse Prest Hardings
offer Of arbitration 20 settle the coal
strikes. both b.tumirous and anth.
racIte John l. Lewis president Of
the union left a final conference
at the white house with Prest Hard
ing and Sec'y Davis late Friday de-
termined. il was understood. 20 re-
commend a refusal of the govern
ment's offer 10 the union policy COM
mittee which viii meet here Satur-
day
The expected refueal it was said
viii apply 20 the anthracite mines
as well as the b.tumluous although
employers in the anthracite region
/ have accepted the presidents oneI
/ practically without condition. The
union viewpoint is that .le anthra-
cite fields. with their potential pro-
/ duction Of two million tons Of coal
week should not resume work
+ because this coal supply along with
Inon-union production OF bituminous
would lessen public pressure for a
strike settlement.
I. :. May Run Mines
The only light cast upon the govern
ment's possible further course waE
white house declaration Friday
that Pres't Harding felt no doubs
he had power 10 operate the mines
In an emergency. The president
might run the risk Of impeachment
f.-
dicated. bur he was said not 20 fear
such a possibility under existing con
ditions.
The union ofnciaIs. who have re-
NAMED IN Washington since the
breakup OF the general coal confer
encc, have made their position plain
10 officials IN demanding first OF
all that arbitration as offered be
made 20 apply 20 semi-unionized
fields OF West Virginia and Penn
sylvan.a where production has been
only partially crippled since the
strike. They have further asked FOX
its application Ga washington state
and Mingo county. Yves, Virginia.
/ They were satisfied Friday night
that the government either cannot
or will not force mine owners now
! producing coal in these territories 20
Icome under the edict ~ the proposed
federal wage fixing body and are con-
sequentIy disposed 20 Jet the strike
go forward until the situation e
changed
There is also union objection 20
submitting certain union policies.
especially that Of the 'check-of by
which It's dues are collected through
the mining company payrols. 20 such
arbitration The main point how
ever. arises IN fixing the area % be
covered
Bl.umlnous employers. although
their answer Is not expected 90 be
fled until Monday and the union's
formal answer may also fail 20 ap-
pear before then. are expected &c
iaccept the arbitration offer az .east
/ conditioually.
Coal Production Drops
Meanwhile the geological survey
reported Friday a sharp drop in coal
production in r0n-uniou h.-uminous
\ fields. fixing the total output the
week OF July an az 81. 600 tons,
while for the present week the fEuref
are not expected 90 be- above four
IutTrlon tons This compares with
high point ~ 100000 tons reached
hv non-unlor production e.1ce the
strike The railroad troubles. which
have shut or almost completely one
or two of -he ror-unlor areas and
crippled car supplies in others =
held responsible The survey est-
mates that consumption IS about
eight million tons Of hitumin0us pei
week
Union s0okeemer declare The pre-
sent situation is bringing about