Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-04-04

Chicago, April Union officials
today rallied as the first break in the
ranks OF the operators the reported
offer of several independent producers
in the anthracite fields of Pennsyl.
vania to grant the strikers nineteen
wage demands Immediately if they
would return to their jobs.
Meanwhile on the main battle
ground of the nations greatest ceal
strike-the bituminous feld-d develop.
ments more clearly defining the situa-
tion as regards the support given the
strike by the nOnuni0n miner were
expected. Strike leaders announced
that the anthracite miners general
policies committee would meet i'm New
York tomorrow to act on the reported
concession OF the anthracite operators
and acceptance may result In negotid-
tion of separate contracts and reopen
ing of the mines affected, they said
According to c. J. Golden, union dis
trict president all mines in the an
thraCite fields are shut down with the
exception of one at Locust Pa. where
for three months thirty men have
been digging frantically in search of
a miner who disappeared under an
avalanche of coal last January As
the rescue work goes on about twenty
tons of anthracite are removed each
day.
Statements Conflict
Conflicting statements concerning
the success attending efforts OF the
union men to extend the bitlminous
strike into the nOn-uniOn fields Wer3
made today. Operators assert the
non-union fields are producing at a
normal rate, in some instances even
claiming the suspension was not com
plete in the union fields. On the other
hand, union leaders maintained that
union production was completely sds-
pended and that nOnuniOn workers
are rapidly Hocking to their support
No work is being done in the Kansas
mining field except in the case of
few independent mines. The Kansas
industrial court had ordered continua.
ton Of the old wage agreements for
thirty days, but the miners have
shown no intention Of changing their
decision and divert from the strikers
ranks. President Lewis of the btumi-
nous organization continued today
his testimony before a house commit
tee at Washington investigating the
coal industry, The mine workers
program for naturalization of the
coal industry was broached by Mr..
Lewis yesterday before the committee
was given elaboration by anthracite
miners leaders. The first step, they
said, would be introduction in con-
gress of a bill providing for fact find
ing" committee. They expressed con
fidence that the findings Of such a
committee would result in the public
demanding the control of coal mining,
to be placed under government super
vision. Thousands of coal miners.
especially in the anthracite fields, are
reported searching for employment in
other liens of endeavOr. The exodus
of miners to make their homes in
former native lands is marked also.
The only industry to feel the effects
of the suspension so far is transporta-
ton, thousands of railroad men en-.
gagged in handling coal being laid off.
No Disorders Reported.
No disorder of consequence has
been reported from any district in
connection with the strike. The Iowa
State Federation of Labor today
pledged its unqualified support to the
cause of the miners.