New-York tribune., 1922-03-31
Anthracite Mem
Adioesr11p.a p.ar'ey
To Start Strike
Union and Operators TO
Resume Conference on
New Wage Scale Monday
After Mines Arc Closed
100 o Walk -Ou, Forecast
Warnings Agains. Violence
During Vacation Period
Are Issued by Leaders

Conferences which have heon held
during the last two weeks by repre-
sentatiVes Of Che anthracite miners and
operators in an effort to effect new
hard coal agreement were adjourned
Yesterday to enable the mine workers
officials to direct the suspension Of
work in the anthracite fields
1t will be a 100 per cent wak-out
there, according 10 Thomas Kennedy,
president of District No. Of the
United Mine Workers. although about
l. per cent Of the hard coal miners do
not mold union cards. Most Of the lat
ter are employed at washerics, how
ever, Kennedy pointed out. and in adj
oition "arc dependent on the union for
al' they GET
Special instructions were issued by
all the anthracite district officials dur
ing the day warning the miners against
any acts OF violence In this connec-
ton MIR. Kennedy SAID that not Il sin
gle arrest on such charge had been
made during all past suspensions since
1902, which were regarded far more in
the light of "yacations' than as strikes.
Every mine in the anthracite dis
trict will be shut down, you can bank
on that said MIR, Kennedy THE men
are going out 100 per cent
More than 500 hard coal mines viii
be forced to stop operations com
petely A total Of $50, 900 hard coal
miners Will quit work, about 1870 900 Of
them members Of the union The only
exceptions made Will be in the case Of
800 men given permission to remain at
work fighting three mine fires near
Scranton ana Wilkes Barre. Strike
headquarters for the anthracite dis
tricts and the number of miners IN each
Of the latter viii be: Scranton, Dis
tlict No. /. G0.000; Ha2leton, District
No. 7. $4,000 and Shamokin. District
No, 9, $4,000
The anthracite miners are prepared
for a long siege. They have been
thrifty during the war and postwar
prosperity Of the region, as their bank
deposits show. and feel they can afford
to take a rest for a few weeks. mas
much as this is the iirst vacation"
they have had for several years,
although it isn't strictly in the holi-
day spirit that has marked other sus
pensions during negotiations.
The session on the anthracite sub.
scale committee yesterday was devoted
10 the presentation by the mincts OF
additional data bearing on their wage
demands. chiefly in support of why
they believe there should be mini
mum wage of $500 day for day
workers. who comprise about 30 per
cent of the hard coal miners.
One OF the chief points made in this
contention, it was said by Philip Muir
ray, president Of thc union, was
the Introduction OF an exhibit estab-
fishing $500 year as the minimum
wage on which a miner properly could
support his family and himself. The
miners spokesmon pointed out that
even the $500 day a>Eed would fall
short Of this mini mum by nearly $500.
"in9SmNch as the best employment an
anthracite miner can hope to get is
27o days a year.
The ST 500 minimum was established
through reports of the commission
appointed in 1877 by President Wilson
to inquire into living costs at Washine-
ton and in the shipbuilding industry,
Mr Murray said Their minimum set
was S22G3. the lower figure for the
mining districts being reached because
Of different conditions in the latter.
The miners also introduced data sup
PofNNG thclf cOntenul 01S for better
compensation for mine workers en-
gagged in the skilled and more hazard
Gus occupations. Various Of their aycu-
ments brought heated responses fr0l,
the operators, and there were plenty
OF sharp exchangcs,' according to Mr..
Murray
The negotiations will be resumed on
Monday, the miner. continuing TO put
IN their case. This Will require al
least three days to complete. it was
said.
All the railroads entering New York
City have provided themselves with
ample reserve stocks of coal accordinr
to reports gathered from thoir Off
clajs. The largest was said to be that
OF the New York Central lines, 700
600 tons. supply Of from two to three
months. Some roads reported having
a four months supply on hand.