The north Mississippi herald., 1922-03-24

The order, which was sent to the
5000 local unions, directed the mill-
ers to give their operators their full
est cooperation in the protection of
mine property and counselled against
violence and violation of the law. In
addition to affecting all union miners
in the United States the order direct
ed approximately $500 men in west
ern Canada to join in the walkout but
did not apply to $4,000 miners in
Nova Scotia.
Never before in the history OF the
coal industry has a suspension or
strike order called for cessation of
work of all union miners in the Unit
ed 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 sympathetic strike by the btu
minous miners at that time was re-
Jected by the unions convention, it
being argued that the soft coal work
ers were bound by contract.
The issuance of the call came with
the recent strike vote of soft coal min
ers not completely tabu'ated but it
was said officially, that the work on
the unions board of tellers had pro-
gressed to such a point as to show
every field voting overwhelmingly in
favor of a suspension. Indications
were that nine-tenths of the miners
favored the walkout.
Cessions 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. Outstand-
ing among the questions to be con-
sidered by the committee is that of
negotiating single wage settlements.
A division within the committee on
this question seems certain with in
dications that a majority will oppose
the single state proposition. The gus
pension which said blame for the
walkout in the soft coal fields rested
with the operators for refusing to
negotiate a new contract with the
union and with the failure to reach
a new agreement with the hart coal
operators, was mailed by officers en-
ployees at the Headquarters hero in
the absence of officials. The pro-
cedure however. had previously beer
arranged by officials and the release
of the call which was dated yester-
day was directed by officers who are
in New York meeting with anthracite
operators.
William Green, secretary treasur-
er of the union, made the text pab-
lie upon his arrival here from Cos
nocton, O., where he had been the
last few days. He declined to make
any comment, saying the order was
self-explanatory.
The unions membership, exclud-
ing that in Nova Scotia, which will
not be affected by the strike is about
10000 men. OF these aprroyi-
mately $4,000 are in the three arthra-
cite districts of Pennsylvania and the
remainder scattered over the soft
coal fields. Past suspensions in the
anthracite fields, however, have prac-
tica'ly closed all operations, leading
TO the official estimate that almost
600 900 men will be called out of
the mines.
The order was not sent into Nova
Scotia because the miners there were
said to be working under arrange
ments made some time ago when
contract expired and it was said that
the injection of the strike order
might complicate the situation as to
making of any future agreements
impossible.
The miners attitude in calling the
suspension was set forth fully in the
call which also related the author
itv under which the officials acted
in issuing it.