Arizona republican., 1922-04-01
UNION OFFICIALS CLAIM
COMP P|ETE T|EUP IN ALL
ORGANIZED DISTRICTS
Coal Production in TUenty States Stops at
Midnight; Nation-lOide Strike May Cause
DisIocation of Industry Throughout Nation
Affecting Citizens in All Walks of Life
IRepubIIoan A. P. Leased WireJ

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Mar. 31.x
Coal production was stopped tonight
by the union coal miners, who quit
their days work in the mines of 20
states with the avowed policy of re-
naming idle indefinitely in an effort
to force the operators TO accept the
miners terms for new wage contracts.
Officials at the headquarters here
OF the United Mine Workers of
America declared that the suspension
would not only include half million
union workers, but also that at least
100 600 non-union men would join in
the Walkout. No last minute instruc
tions were issued from headquarters
and the only significant conference
held during the day by President
John l. Lewis was with Lonnie Jack
son, president Of the Kentucky union
district, where 5000 union men viii
continue 10 work because their cone
tract with operators has another year
to run.
During the day Mr.. Lewis declared
that the suspension of work by Kan
sas union miners would not be avert
ed by the action of the Kansas In
dustrial court ordering that wage
scales OF the last two years be Gin
tinued for 80 days. In a formal state
ment tonight the union chief declared
| the nation- wide Walkout would af
| feet hundreds Of thousands OF citi-
zens," not directly engaged in the
coal industry, and he reiterated his
charge that the operators had forced
"the strike upon the miners"
In addition to the Kentucky miners.
union men in Nova Scotia will remain
at work, but those in the western
I "a fafs1Xrfrpnsx PEnpFfsd m
| join the suspension.
Numerous reports from the coal
fields of the country also reached
headquarters, which Mr.. Lewis de-
clared indicated complete tie-up Of
all union fields. These reports also
showed that $4,000 union men would
be left in the mines to protect the
properties from damage, and the only
trouble between operators and miners
in this connection was reported from
Washington state, where operators
were said TO be objecting to paying
the wages provided for in the con-
tract that expired at midnight.
Mr.. Lewis formal statement re-
garding the suspension of work fol-
lows:
THE strike upon which the United
Mine Workers Of America are enter
ing is not a question of small mag
nitude nor one to be lightly consid-
cred by the American people. 1t Is
fraught with far reaching conse-
quences and serious responsibilities
as affecting public veal. The with
drawal OF in excess of 100000 men
| from the mines of the country con-
| stitutes a serious problem. Aside
| from the inevitable coal shortage
which will ensue to the profit or coal
operators and to the detriment of the
| public, it will cause dislocation of
| industry throughout the nation. az
/ fecting hundreds of thousands OF cit
/ izens in other walks of life.
This is a deplorable condition and
/ constitutes q sad commentary upon
! the relationship OF employer and en-
1 ploye i'm American industry. Every
1 thoughtful man recognizes that IN
/ the end a settlement of the problems
! Of the mining industry must per force
! be effected. Such settlement must
| come through Joint conference with
! accredited representatives of the mine
| workers OF the nation.
TT is unfortunate because OF the
| arbitrary attitude Of the coal oper-
! ators that such a meeting can not
/ be assembled until the country has
| endured the agony and conyulslonS
| involved in an industrial STRIFE on
such q gigantic scale. In the present
issue the public has been lulled lnte
a sense of false security by the
! soothing statements OF those who VIII
| profit through a strike
"The mine workers repeatedly have
/ called attention to those facts and
| our statements have gone unheeded.
| The responsibility must therefore.
be with those who have forced the