The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-04-03
SUSPENSION OF
COAL MINING
IS COMPLETE
Claim Miners Cause Strength
ened by Walkouts in Nom
Union Districts-Claim Tie
up Effective.
RESUME NEGOTIATIONS
(By Associated Press)

coal mines of the country virtually
was complete today. according to re-
ports from union forces, and claims
were made that the miners cause had
Deen strengthened by walkouts in
some union districts.
PRESIDENT Lewis, of the zine work
ers, told the house labor committee
that resumption of work depended en-
tlrely on operators, whose refusal to
confer, he said, provoked the suspen-
sion
Miners claimed complete tie-up in
New River fields of West Virginia.
non-unlon territory heretofore.
scranton anthracite mining districts
reported Suspension 100 per cent ef-
fective, with 10000 idle
Miners officials asserted 450O men
mad Joined the walkout in the Panhan-
ule district of West Virginia, hut Of
flclals representing the operators said
I very little progress toward suspension
mad been made in any West Virginia
non-union fields.
Geological survey announced bitum-
; lnous production OF 11,5O0,O00 tons in
the week ended March 25. confirming
the surveyors forecast of $4,000 600 in
consumers hands April /.
A meeting in Chicago of rail union
groups today expected to discuss re-
iation of railroad workers to the min
ers' suspension of work.
Presidents of The three anthracite
districts travelled 10 New York to re.
sumo wage negotiations with the oper-
ators' subcommittee
WASHINGTON, April 8. = Union
coal miners who suspended work Sat
4 m fhn I,...
anthracite fields were declared today
by John l.. Lewis. president of the
United Mine Workers of America. TO
be desirous of ending "the suspension
or mining operations at the earliest
possible date, but "the RESUMPTION of
coal production entirely depends upon
the future attitude of the coal op-
erators''
Mr. Lewis made this declaration be-
fore the house labor committee, which
Us holding hearings on the Bland reso-
Hutton to direct appointment by the
president OF commission to investi-
gate the coal industry. Discussing the
resolution under consideration the
United Mine Workers president as
serted that his organization would
welcome "any impartial and judicial
investigations of the general condi
tions in the bituminous and anthracite
coal industries and especially the facts
relating to investments and profits
operating practices, conservation of
fuel resources, application of uniform
methods of safeguarding the life and
limb of the workers, and industrial re-
lations and conditions
Should Have Power
such an investigating body" he
added, should be clothed with full
poHer to ascertain the truth to send
FOR persons and papers and to take tes-
timony under oath. The personnel OF
such a commission should be free
from political equations and the mine
workers should be given adequate rep
resentation thereon"
In appearing before the house com
mittee, Mr.. Lewis addressed his re-
marks directly to the subject of the
committees hearing, the Bland resclu-
ton to direct presidential appointment
of commission to study the coal in
dustry zut questions planned by COM
mittee members were expected to lead
the mine workers president into vari-
Gus aspects of the strike situation.
Mr.. Lewis said today he was quite
satisfied with progress of the strike
and although recognizing that today
and the next few days to come will
provide the first test of the effective
ness of the walkout predicted that
there won't be single return to
work this week from the 100000 men
who went out"
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, April 3-The
first test of strength in the nation
wide suspension of work by union coal
miners came today, the beginning of
the suspension on Saturday, an annual
holiday among miners, having failed
to determine the exact effectiveness
of the walkout At the headquarters
here of the United Mine Workers OF
America, confidence was expressed
that the days developments would
confirm the union estimate of 100000
men, among them 100000 non-union
workers, had laid down their tools for
an indefinite period of idleness
A tacit truce between miners and
operators was counted on apparently
to make the union estimate of idle
men certainty. Few, if any, oper-
ators in the big coal producing cen
ters that are strongly unionized were
expected to attempt an early resump-
ton of operations The situation, how
ever, was in doubt in the non-union
and openshop districts.
Operators of the Pennsylvania an
thracite mines were not planning an
Immediate resumption of work, and
reports sent here indicated a similar
attitude on the part of the mine own
ers in the Central Competitive Field
and the Southwest interstate district.
These three districts have more
than 100000 employees, all union men,
excepting about half of the $4,000 an
thracite workers. States included in
this stronghold of the suspension were
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas and
Oklahoma. In addition, central Penn
sylvaia and West Virginia along with
the smaller coal fields were counted
on to swell the ranks of the idle men.
TERRE HAUTE. Ind, April 3.
Union miners in Indiana are out 100
per cent strong, according to reports
received at headquarters of District
No. IL in this city
The suspension has extended to
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