The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-28
Miners Do Not Favor Wage
Award of Industrial Court.
Refuse to Negotiate Separate
Contracts With Operators.
FUEL SHORTAGE PREDICTED
President Peck Tells His
Troubles to Labor Tribunal.
Judges Do Not Indicate When
Hearing Will Be Resumed.

Kansas union miners will not work
under any wage award or order the
industrial court may make. Neither
will they consent to negotiate separate
contracts with operators. They won't
go back to work until a general wage
agreement is made.
That was the testimony before the
industrial court today by George L.
Peck, provisional president of the
mine workers in District IA. Peck
said he didn't believe he coulc live long
enough to convert the mine workers to
the cause of the Industrial court law.
Face a Fuel Shortage.
Supplementing the Peck testimony
was that of Ira Clemans, president of
the Southwestern Operators associa-
ton. Clemans told the court there
was prospect of a fuel shortage when
the threshing season opened. He said
there were 2S9 cars of unbilled coal on
siding in the Pittsburg field now as
against 419 cars when the strike star
ted May 1. He said wagon and dinky
mine production in the field averaged
eighteen cars a day.
Pecks testimony was a cold, delib-
crate statement of conditions in the
Kansas coal field as he fouId l. after
He said he was .ierSonaliy of the opin-
ion that there was merit in the labor
court act But the miners can't see it.
He said efforts toward an Independent
contract were futile. Peck's bit of
sensational testimony came at the
close of his examination in the second
coal strike hearing.
Order Expires Saturday.
AS Peck left the stand Presiding
Judge Higgins said the court would
not take further testimony at this
time. The courts order holding the
in zrF1ir
Saturday.
There will be no new .yard at this
time. Judge Huggins announced this
position from the bench. La er Judges
McDermott and Crawford said no new
action would be taken for at least sew
eraI days.
President Clemans had told the
court of efforts to negotiate a sepa-
rate contract with the miners for the
southweste field and for Kansas.
All efforts failed. The matter had
been taken up with John L. Lewis.
president of the International Mine
Workers union. He refused to con-
sent to an Independent wage order at
this time.
Miners Refuse to work.
'T found the men were almost
unanimous in refusing to work under
any schedule made by the industrial
court in an effort to reopen the
mines,' President Peck told the court
III answer 10 d question Dy W.
Clarkson, attorney for the miners.
WAS that attitude one of defiance
or because they feared they might
lose their legal rights? ?"
They feel the Industrial court is
taking away from them their rights
to make their own contracts and to
force from the operators the con-
tracts which they feel are desira
do you believe the men would go
back to work if the industrial court
ffe-fr raf.r xxrsa 90
Il don't believe the men in District
Il would return to work under any
order made by the industrial court. .
Then Judge Higgins tried to find
a more favorable attitude.
Even if the court allowed higher
wages than the men ever had be-
fore ?"
Don't Believe in Court.
''I don't believe they would go back
to work. They don't believe in the
court idea"
but you believe in it?"
YES
isn't there any way for you to get
the idea to the men ?'
There may be-" Peck said as he
faltered a moment, but I don't be
lieve I will live long enough
do you believe any new agree
ment can be made with the men for
this state or this district independent
of the international agreement based
asked Clarkson.
Want General Agreement.
s'rIo. sir. The men won't work un
til there is a new general agreement.
They won't accept any sort of section
q agreement
Preside lent CIemans of the operators
during the harvest season would be
organization said the demand for coal
great. He was not certain that pro-
duction of wagon and dinky mines
would be adequate to meet demands.
Rather he thought it would not sup
ply needs. Union miners are not
working in the small mines and the
strike is 100 per cent perfect so far
as the union organization in Kansas
is concerned.
Court judges did not indicate when
the coal strike hearing would be re-
opened or a new order issued. The
temporary order issued a month ago
will expire Saturday night without
ther action by the labor court.