Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-04-13
COLLECTIVE
BARGAINING
THREATENED
Union Mine Leaders Turn At
tentiOn to West Vir-
ginia.
@OPEN SHOPS MENACING

Leaders in the nationwide coal strike
turned their attention toward non-union
fields Of West Virginia today, where their
organization activities were entoined by
Federal Judge McClintic.
Legal counsel of the miners met at
Charleston to perfect an appeal from the
decision, which union chiefs regard as
a direct slap at collective bargaining.
The open shop fields Of West Virginia
are more menacing to the success Of the
strike, than any other single factor, IN
the entire situation, il was said. They
have been the center Of unionization work
for a number Of years, especially since
the strike, started April 1.
It was learned the union agents are
still busy there pending the outcome of
the conference Of attorneys who met to
review all legal aspects Of the matter. The
attorneys will endeavor TO find a way to
overcome the restraint granted fifty eight
mining companies in the Winding Gulf
field and sixty-thres companies in the
Thacker field, which includes Mingo
County, scene Of bloody mine war.
THE United Mine Workers regard IS
suance of these writs as an unwarranted
trespass upon the rights Of citizens and
an effort TO strip the United Mine Work
ers Of their natural and legal rights as
an orgauizat tom John I. Lewis. presi-
dent OF the miners, declared at head
quarters here.
We have no objection to being en-
Joined from doing things in themselves
unlawful, but these writs seek to enioin
the union from committing acts which are
lawful. Our attorneys have been in
structed 10 prepare an appeal and carry
these cases to higher courts"
h The improvement in railroad finances
WAS the result OF huge decreases in op-
Grating expenses, although revenues also
showed declines. The revenues totalled
SfO1. 32S 100 for the month, a decrease OF
Is per cent over the same month OF
1921. while the expenses tOtalled 1924. 423,
500. a decline OF I5.6 per cent over Feb
ruary last year. Despite these decrease
the reports showed II per cent more
freight was handled I'm February than
in the same month Of the preceding year.
Reads IN the eastern district alone
showed more than a 6 per cent return
on their valuation. In this district, the
net income was SO. 535SO0. or a return
Of III per cent compared to a deficit
OF ST.627,J92 in February, 1921.
In the southern district, the carriers
reported a net operating income Of S7,O4s.-
500. compared 10 1886. 25T, the same month
a year ago. This was at a rate Of re-
turn Of 3.9s per cent
Western carriers reported net incomes
Of S1117T9O0 compared to S1.9s4, 400, al
though this gave them a rate Of re-
turn Of only 2.46 per cent.
The prosperity Of eastern roads COM
pared to the low returns in western and
southern carriers, il was explained, re
suited from the threatened coal strike
which served as a stimulus to transpor-
tation Of coal. The commission also was
informed that rate reductions in hay and
grains had failed to materlalize in ex-
pected increase in traffic Of these com
modities.
The tabula tons. Il was stated. were
based on reports from 200 railroads.