The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-22
ALL UNION MINERS IN U. 5. INVOLVED
 FOR FIRST TIME
Power to Call Off Strike in Whole on in Part Is Vested in the Unions Policy
 Committee
Fly Associated Press

sion of work by all union coal miners at midnight, March 31, was ordered today by officers of the United Mine Workers of America, the call being the first ever issued for both bitu- minous and anthracite workers to walk out simultaneously. Eight hundred thousand men will be direct ly affected by the order, it was esti- mated. The suspension will continue until stopped by union officials.
 The order. which was sent to 5000 union locals, directed the miners to give the operators their fullest CO., operation in the protection of mine property and counciled against vio- fence. In addition to affecting all union miners in the United States the order also directed approximately b.6aO union men in western Canada to join in the walkout. but did not apply to ff,000 miners In Nova Scotia. All Miners Included
 Never before in the history of the coal industry has a suspension or strike order called for cessation of work by all union miners in the United States. In the past, wage con tracts in the bituminous and anthra- cite fields, have not expired at the same time but complete tie up in union fields was considered during the great anthracite strike in 1902 A sympa thetie strike by the bitumin- ous miners at that time was rejected by the unions convention, it being argued that the soft coal workers were bound by contract
 The issuance of the call came with the recent strike vote of soft coal miners not completely tabulated. but lit was said, officially, that the work of the unions board of telIers had progressed to such a point as to show every field voting overwhelm- lngly in favor of suspension. Indi- cations were that nine-tenths of thei rn}sstrs Favored the wRfkout.
 Cessation of the suspension. in whole or in part, is left to the unions policy committee, composed of more than 100 union officials, which will meet in Cleveland Friday to consider plans for conducting the strike. Out standing among the questions to be considered by the committee is that of negotiating single state wage agreements.
 division within the committee on this question seems certain with indi- cations that majority will oppose the single state proposition.
 Rests With Operators The suspension order, which was blamed for the walkout, rested with the operators for refusing to negoti- ate B new contract with the union and with the failure to reach a new agreement with the hard coal opera tors. was mailed by office employees at the union headquarters here in the absence of officers. The procedure had previously been arranged by officials and the release of the call which was dated yesterday, was di- rected by officers who are In New York meeting with anthracite opera tors.
 William Green, secretary treasurer of the union. made the text public on his arrival here from Coshocton, Ohio, where he had been the last few days. He declined 10 make any com ment, saying the order was selfex- planatory.
 1 The unions membership, excluding that in Nova Scotia which will not be affected by the strike. is about
 
 l 75 900 are in the three anthracite dis tricts of Pennsylvania and the re- matnder scattered over the soft coal | fields Past suspensions in the an thracite fields. however, have practi- cally closed all operations. leading to the official estimate that almost 600, coo men will be called out of the mines
 The order was not sent into Novia Scotia because the miners there were said to be working under an agree ment made some time ago when contract expired and it was said that the injection of the strike order might complicate the situation as to make any future agreements impos- sible.
 The miners attitude in calling the suspension was set forth fully in the call. which also related the authority under which the officials acted in is- suing it.
 The order was addressed to "the officers and members of the United Mine Workers of America" and was signed by John l.. Lewis, international president; Philip Murray, vice presi- dent and William Green, secretary treasurer. The text follows: l Text of Strike order l me JabL 1nteTndtlOHdt COHNeutioii of inc United Mine Workers of Amer ica. held in the city of Indianapolis during the week of February IA, 1928, adopted the following declaration as part of the policy of the United l Mine Workers of America: The present contract between the coal operators and the United Mine 1 Workers of America in both the an | thracite and bituminous coal fields term hates on March 31. 1922. In the event no agreement Is reached by April 1. we declare In favor of a gen. ersl suspension of mining operations such action being subject to refer endum vote of the membership of the l United Mine Workers Of America, such referendum vote to be held prior to March S1.
 l Since this action was taken the | international officers of the United | Mine Workers have endeavored to meet the operators of the central competitive field in joint conference for the purpose of negotiating new wage agreement. The operators of western Pennsylvania and southern Ohio positively refused to attend an | interstate meeting, while the opera tors of eastern Indiana and Ohio agreed to do so only If all the opera : tors in western Pennsy lvania. Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. the states and districts comprising the central com lpetiuve field, were present. Because Ithe operators refused to meet your
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