The New York herald., 1922-04-24

This is the first of series of ar
ticlcs by The New York Herald Civ
ing first hand analysis of the coal
strike situation from the outlook of
the operators and strikers, both
union and non-union. The second
article will appear in an early issue.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YoRK HERALp.
CREssoN, Pa. April 23.-The opera
tors plainly are on the defensive at
this stage of the strike so far as the
soft coal fields Of central Pennsyl-
vania are concerned. Non-union
mines that heretofore have resisted
Establishments of the United Mine
Workers have Joined the strike to an
extent astonishing to operators and
union alike.
The closing Of great operations in
Somerset county, notably those of the
Berwind- White company. a Verdun of
bitumen. and the fiocking Of their men
to the union standard was not ex-
pected. John Brophy, president of the
Mine Workers District No 2, figures
ltidL dDOuL OV,VVV VI LlG VOsVVu utilOii
and non-union miners of tLe central
part of the State are out The opera
tors call this an exaggeration, but adj
NIT that the union mines are 100 per
cent. shut up and that others have
surrendered TO an unanticipated de-
gree.
The significance of the walkout in
non-union territory is to be found in the
fact that before the strike it was pro-
ducing more coal than the union ficl5s
output According to the operators
tabulation the non-union men got out
81 per cent. and the union men 4G per
cent. OF the coal OF the district last
year.
This part of the bituminous zone
sends most of its low volatile produc.
10 New York and New England. where
industry uses it to generate steam.
With the supply from the union collieries
cut off the non-union. or "unorganized, >
collierics were expected to piece out the
reserve hoard of industry and keep the
wheels moving for at least sixty days
II the strike lasted that long. There
still remain active non-union fields n
West Virginia and elsewhere. but IL is
obvious that the union, by persuading
the non-union brethren of central Penn
syivania to join the strike. has greatly
strengthened It's position.
Coal stfII Poured out.
On the edge of the solid union region
north and northwest of Cresson the un-
organized miners OF three companies
continue TO pour forth coal at top speed
fn 70 nF oh f,r
and his scouts. They are the vinton-
dale Colierics Company at vintonda. e.
the Ebensburg Coal Company at Colver.
both in Cambria county. and the Beth
lehem Mines Corporation at Heilwood.
across the line in Indiana county and
controlled by Charles NJ. Schwab.
The union organizers covet these
towns. but complain they cannot get into
them to start anything. Judging rom
the experience OF THE NEW YORK
HERALD correspondent at Vintondale, tine
organizers. and casual strangers as we'll
even those on impartial business--arc.
indeed. excluded. 1t serves as a gooi
illustration of the resoluteness with
which anti-union operators are protect
Ing their men from the union prose-
1yters or disturbers.
The correspondent, after going about
several union towns Of Cambria county
u.
wanted to go to Vintondale to see what
a group of colleries that were still pro-
ducing coal--an island in the sea of
unionism-looked like. Unfortunately
he cannot make this report, for the fol-
lowing reason:
He approached vintondaie from Twin
Rocks, over a road so rough as to ac-
count for much OF the prosperity OF
manufacturers Of automobile tires The
rtrf1 1rs a..
and the driver. whose car had been
hired In Cresson. That the coke ovens
of vintondale we're going full tilt was
indicated by pillars Of black smoke ris-
ing from the valley. Natives met on
the way told him the road was county
owned all the way through Vintondale.
But at the edge OF the mining town two
automobiles. turned nose TO nose across
the highway. barred him. In front OF
them was a reception committee. con-
sistIng OF three uniformed men on horse
back, another afoot, and three civilians
afoot. The troopers wore slick uni
forms OF dark gray whipcord and SOM
breros with chin straps. They also
wore cartridge belts. full OF .3Ss, bulg-
ing az the hip They held up their right
hands like city traffic cops and moved
toward the correspondent as he APP
preached.
& N
also held up his hand. He was a round
faced man with dark slouch hat. One
~ his two civilian helpers, was arrayed
An a plaid mackinaw. After the CORE
spondert stopped two other men joined
them. Even Il some thoughtless soul
had driven through this human barri-
cade the automobile dam would have
stopped him. for 1t was wedged between
an enbankment and house on one side
Of the road and the edge OF gully on
the other.
Man OF Few words.
The civilian boss was man OF few
words. you'll have TO turn back. ne
said. The visitors explained they were
correspondents, not organizers. The
boss's smile was wholly skeptical.
isn't this public highway" one OF
he tourists asked. ut is private" said
The boss. ITS blocked. You can't get
through" he added
IT'S public highway, and ! should
like to inquire by what right we are
stopped" said the other.
II tell you It's blocked. and the bes,
thing you can do is turn right round
and get out" said the boss
There arc three gangs Just like this \
nc EsId. waving toward tiis army Of