Evening star., 1922-03-31
Only Few Guards to
Remain to Prevent
Damage to Mines.
HUGE STOCKS MAKE
+ LONG STRIKE SURE
Lewis Declares 100000
Non-UniOn Men
Will Quit.
By the Associated Press.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March 81
The last day of work under present
wage contracts was completed today
by the country's half million union
coal miners. Ohcially their suspen-
sion OF work was set to begin tonight
at midnight, but virtually it was to
start six hours ahead Of schedule for
most miners and their shift in the
mines at that hour. The extent of
the suspension. however, will not be
an exact certainty until tomorrow.
the first day of the shutdown.
A complete tfe-up of union fields
in twenty states was predicted today
by officials of the United Mine Work
ers of America at the union head
quarters here, and they also asserted
that 100000 non-union workers would
lay down their picks. President John
l.. Lewis said at least 100000 men
would join the walkout. his estimate
including the non union participants.
No final instructions to district
leaders were planned to be issued to-
day from union headquarters. and Of
hcials declared any move averting the
suspension was now impossible.
I'VE are ready for a flght, forced
on US by the operators" declared MIR.
Lewis. I'VE have fought in every
honorable way to get new contracts,
but the operators have persistenly re-
powerful non-union interests have
tried in every possible way to per-
suade the union operators to fight the
United Mine Workers in order that
the non-union interests may reap a
financial harvest by operating during
the strike"
Twenty States Affected.
Twenty states will be affected by
the shutdown, and the only union
men expected to continue coal pro-
western Kentucky. whose contract
with the operators does not expire
until April 1, 1928. In addition forces
of the union men will be left in the
mines to protect the property from
damage.
Pennsylvania will turn out the larg-
est number Of men, and other states
Ohio. Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri.
Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas,
Alabama, Tennessee. Kentucky, Mary
land, Michigan, Montana. Wyoming.
Colorado and Washington. Western
Canada is also expected to Join the
district
Not only is Pennsylvania expected
to send out the greatest force of the
union men. but also the union officials
anticipate an exodus of the non-union
miners in that state. The anthracite
are expected to be shut down COM
pletely. and, in addition, many btu
minous miners from the central part
of that state have been called on to
join with the union men there. West
Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama and
Washington also are expected by the
union officials to experience idleness
at the non-union mines of those
states, the most important Of these
strikes being from the New River and
Winding Gulf fields of West Virginia
The duration Of the suspension in
the union fields. as also the strike at
the non-union mines. is a matter of
conjecture. The shutdown begins
with warm weather approaching and
with stocks on hand the largest at
any time for the last several years.
Government reports placed the stock
at 100000 tons. a quantity as large
as that which had been accumula ted
at the end of the ewar-Armistfce day,
November IL. 1918. This supply. gov
ernment officials estimate. will meet
every demand for forty-three days,
and the depletion of this reserve. is
reRarQeu Dy union oHclalS as neces-
sary before they expect the bitumi-
nous operators to indicate any willing
ness to confer with the union on new
wage contracts.
Shorter Anthracite Strike.
Anthracite operators, however, are
already conducting wage negotiations
with the union and an earlier settle
ment in those fields is promised than
for the principal soft coal districts.
Not all OF the latter fields. however,
are thought to be able to withstand a
long strike. and in a drawn-out strug-
gle the fight may center in the
strongly organised central competi-
tive field, comprising western Penn
sylvania, Ohio. Indiana and, Illinois,
and the southwest interstate district,
including Iowa. Missouri, Kansas,
Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
For the non-ufiion miners Joining
the shutdown, the union does not
plan to finance their idleness. officials
declaring their program for winning
the cooperation of these workers
calls only for a peaceful appeal" :"
Organizers, however, have been quiet
ly at work for some time. and their
effectiveness cannot be forecast, but
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column %