The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-05-26
AlRAI NAG
C0NTRACT HERE \:
NOT CONSIDERED / [ R.
'Run1or Of District Agreement
RidicuIed by President OF
Mine Union.
BASIC SCALE ONLY
Lewis Predicts Acute Situa-
lion in Coal Stocks OF
Country.
BASIC SCALE ONLY
Nv q. III. DUNLAP

BY q. III. DUNLAP
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, May 70
new developments nave ma
teriaIized with the outlying ois.
stricts in the general suspension OF
working the soft coal helds, ac-
Acording to John l.. Lewis, presl-
dent of the United Mine WORKERS
SofSAn1erica today A rumor elH-
mating as a sequel OF the olstrlct
~ board meeting in Charleston 10
L the effect that separate d1strlct
Abatement would be permitted In
sprthern West Virginia is an
E sSsafror and without foundation,
kclared Lewis, and none is con-
~ SipIated for the immediate pres
This is about the stand that
4haries II. Bailey, international
Fairmont, 1numat-
ed %fwouId be taken right along.
From various sources 1t is hlnted
that there will. be no settlement OF
the strike intNorthern West Vlr-
q gif,ia within a month or more,
whichw i1l allay all rumors pre-
Yalent.
sSSss Miners officials contend that
this cannot be done until basic
wage scale is set in the Central
, Connective Field. They say that
koperators of outlying districts
| could not mine coal on any temp
sssosrary wage basis unless a basic
wage scale is set SO that, they
could sknow what competition they
have to contend with.
Summing up the general strike
situation, Mr.. Lewis says every
thin ggis status quo, butsvery salts
factory according to all the re-
ports he receives. He ventured
opinion however, that the
country would soon be facing
SERIOUS situation in reference to
coal tonnage as stock piles are
being depleted The gravity of
.sthe$ situation is most noticeable in
regard to anthracite coal and es-
SseciallyE steam sizes, 40 per
I'm of that coal being used for
That purpose, he said and predict
E3fffsthatS the situation will be soon
ny acute for anthracite steam
lEsizess
harrington: arr Not Feared
Prank harrington president OF
1A1bC4 ~ -
l nave met his board on Thursday,
b ~ HI e&spurpose Of arranging a
with the Illinois opera
tors. Il It's generally believed here
IA miners circles that Earring
ards are tied and he must
ssftE ION with the national miners
President Lewis had no COM
men ii Il; make today on the Illinois
min ersS board meeting at Spring
field Lewis says the miners
morale in the coke belt is fine.
some tents have been pitched in
the Somerset field, but none as yet
Westmoreland County Pennsyl-
Rania Tents have been provided
ereSeYictions were made but as
vet no general eviction has taken
piace,she added.
Tonnage, Lewis contends, is res
xricted to rs per cent in the Som
fSset field while in Westmoreland
lit sWil s5not%ru more than Is per
cent IN h both of&these former
s II OH union fields, there has been
in thespast few weeks.
Present Indications are exceeding
3ispronlising in holding an effec-
tiye oTganization in both fields,
Lewis declares.
District Contract Only
br F. G. Honnold. Chicago
yysslysfdent Of the Illinois Coal
ssoperators Association. says that
the operators in that field will
a district contract. He
gindfcates that the Illinois miners
have several millions of dollars in
their treasury and ventures nc
opinion as to when the strike will
besoyer. Some miners. are in need
but others who own their houses
j and saved their money apparently
seSnot concerned.