Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1922-07-20
ILLINOIS MINERS ARE:
SILENT ON PLAN FOR.
STATE CONFERENCE.
HEADQUARTERS REFUSES TO
COMMENT ON MEETING OF
STERLING AND HARRINGTON
ON PROPOSAL TO REOPEN
COAL SHAFTS.

Springfield, July 2O.-IIeadquarters
OF the Illinois mine workers was sill
ent today regarding the possibilities
OF the conference with Acting Cover.
nor Sterling said he intends having
with the miners president Frank Far
rington upon his arrival here tomor.
row.
Up to Sterling-Small.
Battle Creek. July 20.-"The lieu.
tenant governor of Illinois is in com.
plote charge of affairs at Springfield
and has full authority to take any
action he deems necessary to aid mine
operators In re.opening their pits"
Governor Small said here last night,
when asked what he planned to do to
comply with the presidents request
that the governors of coal producing
states assist operators who desired
10 resume production.
Governor Small said he thought II
unlikely that a declaration OF martial
law In the mining areas would be
necessary to insure peacable opera
tion of the mines.
Stike to Finish; Lewis.
Washington, July 20--The center of
developments in the coal strike was
steadily shifting away from Washing.
ton today and out into the coal fields
where the policy of the government in
Volyng re.Opening Of the mines under
state or federal protection will be
tested.
Responses are yet to come from sew
eral governors tn President Harding's
appeal for cooperation insuring the
nations fuel supply but White House
officials expressed qualification over
the responses thus received. Only
Governor Morrison, of North Carolina,
OF the nineteen governors petitioned,
refused to Join with the federal gov
eminent in putting the mines in OPP
Grafton by use Of state troops.
John l.. Lewis, chief of the united
mine workers was preparing to
leave Washington during the day at
ter having been in the capital for
nearly a month with conferences.
1.-THE mine operators attitude is UNI
changed" said Mr.. Lewis, "our ranks
are unbroken and will continue so.
The miners will continue to act in
law-abiding manner, but under no cir
cumstances will any of our mainten-
ance men continue to work with strike
breakers or in mines whose tipples
are fianked with machine guns or ar
tillery units
Mr. Lewis described the present
strike as the seyerest struggle in
which the labor movement had ever
engaged, considering the number of
men involved Advised that Governor
Grossbeck of Michigan, contemplated
state operation of mines Mr. Lewis
said "if the governor of Michigan de-
sires to employ any coal miners to
operate any mines in Michigan, that
the state, like any other employers,
has to make satisfactory arrange
with the United Mine Workers.
New Angle Worries Capitol.
Washington, July 20.--While the
government today awaited first ind-
cations of the result of the effort to
reopen coal mines closed by the strike
and further responses from governors
of states called on by President Hard
ing to cooperate to that end, officials
showed increasing concern over the
continued falling off in coal produc
ton particularly at non-union mines
due to dwindling car supply The
point emphasized in the government
statement the correlation in effect at
least, of the strike of the railway
shopmen and the strike. i
With responses received up to an
early hour today for about 20 of the
state executives addressed by Presi-
dent Harding, that from Gov. Morri-
son of North Carolina, was the only
one declining support of the position
taken by the federal administration.
Governor Prinkle, of Virginia, made
no comment on the governments posi-
tion merely stating there was no
strike in that state and mine opera
tions continued.
Member organizations of the cham
Der of commerce of the United States
were called on in letter today from
julius H. Barnes, president Of the
chamber to take active steps in sup
port of the governments position re-
garding re.opening OF, the mines.
Quincy, ILL.,, July 20.-The mayor
the sheriff and three leading citizens