The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-04-14
STRIKE SPREADS
IN ALL FIELDS
Bituminous Operators Adj
nit The Loss Of
Ground.

Spread of the coal strike into nom
union strongholds was admitted to-
day at headquarters of the bitumin-
Gus operators association.
"The enemy is gaining ground
much faster than we anticipated"
said the president of the Pennsyl-
vania Company. He quoted a tele-
gram from Greensburg, Pa, in the
heart of the disputed nonunion terri
tory. which said:
Practically all of the southern
part of Fayette County now is af-
fected by the strike. Also another
mine in the Greensburg field, one in
Ligonier and three in Westmore-
land field"
According to the bituminous oper-
ators, organizers for the United Mine
Workers of America have practically
unionized the Westmoreland and
Fayette County fields since the strike
was called ten days ago. Philip Muir
ray, vice president of the mine work
ers' international, corroborated the
operators reports of rapid unioniza-
tion Of the Pennsylvania, West Vir-
ginia and Eastern Kentucky districts,
"At the close of last week so per
cent of the nonunion men had Joined
in the strike" he said To-day, ac-
cording to meager reports from our
Representatives in the field, we are
fast approaching the rs per cent
mgrk."
Mr.. Murray asserted that the
ranks of the strikers in both btu
minous and anthracite fields had
been swelled by nearly 100000 since
the walkout. and the production of
noA-union mines cut by several mil
lion tons weekly.
Government View on Agreements En-
planned.
Indianapolis, April 11.-Ending a
series of conferences of two days with
federal officials here Attorney Cen
eral Daugherty announced tonight
that the government would not per-
init coal operators and miners at any
wage conference that may be held by
them to repeat acts, which he said
had brought on the indictments in
the Federal Court here charging them
with conspiracy to monopolize the
coal industry in violation OF the
Sherman antitrust law.
"A little more consideration" SAID
the attorney general. will be given
by the government in connection with
whatever agreement, II any, is en-
tered into. while the negotiations are
taking place. This may prevent en-
barrassments and proceedings after
ward"
Mr.. Daugherty's statement was
made at the conclusion of his mission
here dealing with possibilities for
ending the general suspension of
work in the coal industry, brought
by a failure of operators and miners
TO negotiate new wage scales. On
leaving here tonight for Washington
he declared he was perfectly salts
fled" and announced he planned fur
Their conferences bearing on the coal
situation.
\ Didn't Meet Miners.
Altho the headquarters of the
United Mine Workers Of America is
in this city, Mr.. Daugherty did not
have any meetings with the miners
Officials but confined himself to con-
ferences with Judge A. b, Anderson
and other federal officers. All con-
ferences were said to relate to the
pending Sherman antitrust cases,
which some operators have declared
barred the possibility of any new
wage conference with the miners. No
new action in these cases was prom
ised as a result of the attorney gem
erals conferences. and in a formal
statement Mr.. Daugherty added that
"perhaps no legal action by the gov
eminent will be necessary in the coal
strike dispute"
He declared he did not come here
determined to take action.
Referring to a prospective wage
conference. Mr.. Daugherty said the
government had not opposed a con-
ference, but had presumed one would
have been held before April l, FOR
the parties to agree upon a legitimate
program"
After asserting that the govern
,.,a nt could not force a conference, his
statement in part added
Violations Must Cease.
"Whether a meeting is held or not