The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-03
CBy the Associated Press

SUSPENSION OF work in the ma
tion's coal fields is practically COM
pfete, it was shown today in the
first real test of strength OF the un-
ion miners strike brought on by in
ability to negotiate new wage
agreements
The estimate by union leaders of
100000 striking union miners, ex-
Guiding only the miners of eastern
Kentucky and Alabama, seemed
well born out. Officers of the Unit
ed Nine Workers estimated also
that 100000 non-union miners had
Joined the union walkoUt.
Several thousand railroad work
ers engaged in the transportation
of coal in mining districts were
thrown out OF work by the suspen-
sion, which is not expected TO AFFECT
workers in ether industries for
some time to come. In fact, ac-
cording to federal officials, the
stocks of coal on hand in this coun-
try are so large that only strike
Of long duration is likely TO anect
industry to any marked extent.
John L. Lewis, president OF Inc
United Mine Workers organization,
told the house labor committee at
Washington today that the union
miners were desirous of ending the
walkQut.at the earliest plussrDfe
date, but such action depended en-
tirely on the future attitude OF the
coal operators The operators, he
said, had repudiated their agree
ment to meet the miners and nego-
tate a new wage agreement col
lectively for the whole bitumlnouS
field. He welcomed government in
vestigation of the coal industry.
Conditions in the anthracite fields
of Pennsylvania differ from those in
the bituminous fields, inasmuch as
wage negotiations are now Delng
held in New York, out OF which an
agreement is prophesied to come.
The $4,000 striking hard coal min
ers have settled down to await the
outcome of the New York confer
ence, and should an agreement re-
suit they will Immediately resume
Men Are Confident
Indianapolis, Ind, April 3.-The
first test of strength in the nation
wide suspension of work by union
coal miners came today, the begin
ming of the suspension on Saturday,
an annual holiday among miners,
having failed to determine the ex-
act effectiveness of the walkout-
At the headquarters here OF the
United Mine Workers of America,
confidence was expressed that the
days developments would confirm
the union estimate that 100000 men,
among them 100000 non-union
workers, had laid down their tools
for an indefinite period of idleness.
A tacit truce between miners ana
operators was counted on appar-
emily to make the union estimate
Of idle men a certainty. Few, II
any, operators in the big coal pro-
ducing centers that are strongly
unionized were expected to attempt
an early resumption of operation.
The situation, however, was In
doubt in the non-union and open
shop districts.
Resumption Not Planned.
Operators of the Pennsylvania
anthracite mines were not planning
an immediate resumption OF Work
and reports sent here indicated a
similar attitude on the part of the
mine owners in the central COM
petitive field and southwest inter-
state district. These three districts
have more than 100000 employees,
union men, excepting about half OF
the $4,000 anthracite workers.
States included in this stronghold
OF the suspension were Pennsylva-
MIA, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missou-
n, Iowa, Kansas. Arkansas and
Oklahoma.