The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-04-05
UNION MINERS OUT
I'm TWENTY STATES
Announced Purpose to Remain Idle
Until Demands are Met. NOn.Union
Workers May Join In Strike


indianapolis, March 31-Coal pro.
duction was stopped tonight by tho
union miners, who quit thoir days
work in the mines Of 20 states with the
nvoWed policy of remaining idle in
definitely in an effort to force the op-
orators to accept the miners terms
for new wage contracts.
Officials at the headquarters here
Of the United Mine workers OF Amcri-
ca declared the suspension would not
only include a half million workers
but also at least 100000 non union
men would join in the walk out. No
last minute Instructions were issued
from Headquarters and the only sig
nificant conference held during the
day by President John l.. Lewis was
with Lonnie Jackson, president of the
Kentucky union district, where 5000
Union men will continue at work be-
cause their contract with operators
has another year to run.
During the day Mr.. Lewis declared
the suspension of work by Kansas
union miners would not be averted by
the action Of the Kansas industrial
court ordering that wage scales of the
last two years be continued for 80
days In a formal statement tonight
the union chief declared the nation
wide walkout would acect Hundreds
OF thousands Of citizens" not directly
engaged in the coal industry, and he
reiterated his charge that the opera
tors had forced "the strike upon che
miners"
In addition to the Kentucky miners,
union men in Nova Scotia will remain
at work but those in the Western Ca
madam provinces were expected to
join the suspension The conference
over the kentucky situation was said
by Its participants to have been a gen
oral review Of the situation there with
President Lewis taking the position
that the union must obey it's contract
with tho operators.
Numerous reports from the coal
fields OF the country also reached
headquarters, which Mr. Lewis declar-
ed indicated a complete tie up Of all
union fields. These reports also, show
cd that 10000 union men would be
left in the mines to protect the prop
erty from damage and the only trouble
between operators and miners in this
connection was reported from Wash
ingtOn where operators were said to
be objecting to paying the wages pro-
vided for in the contracts that ex-
pired at midnight q,
Mr.. Lewis formal statement regard
Ing the suspension Of work follows:
Tho strike upon which the United
Mine Workers Of America are enter
Ing Is not a question of small magni-
tude nor, one to be lightly considered
by the American people. STt is fraught
with far eaching consciousness and
serious responsibilities as acecting
the public veal The withdrawal Of in
excess OF 100000 men from the mines
Of the country constitutes serious
problem Aside from Che inevitable
coal shortage which will ensue, to the
ptOhL vi wal operators anu W Inc
detriment of the public, it will cause
O. dislocation OF industry throughout
the nation affecting hundreds OF thou
sa1lds OF citizens in other walks of life.
"This Is a. deplorable condition and
constitutes q sad commentary upon
the relationships OF employer and ems
ployee in American industry. Every
thoughtful man recognizes that in the
end settlement of the problems OF
the mining industry must perforce be
effected. Such settlement must come
through joint conference with accred-
tted representatives Of the mine work.
ers OF the nation.
1T is most unfortunate, because OF
: the arbitrary attitude Of the coal op-
= orators, that such a meeting can not be
assembled until the country has en-
dured the agony and conyulsions in
volved in an industrial strike on such
a gigantic scale. In the present issue
the public has been lulled in a. sense
of, false security by the soothing. state
ments CT those who wifi profit through
alstrike. i5S
"The mine workers repeatedly have
called attention to those. facts and our
statements have gone unheeded. The
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