New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-09-04
Coal Shortage
Inevitable lin
Spite Of Peace
Normal Anthracite produc-
ton Is Not Expected Be
fore October i, Declare
Well Informed Mine Men
Joy Among Strikers
Large Number of Workers
Probably Will Begin at
Once on Repair jobs


WILKES-BARRE. Sept s.--Anthra-
cite. coal mines. idle for more than five
months, cannot regain anything like
normal production before October i,
Production OF 100000 tons weekly
from that period on will prevent
hard coal famine during the winter,
but it cannot fcrestall shortage.
The signing of peace pact between
operators and men, which to be etTec-
tive, must be ratified at tri-district
convention to be held here next Thurs
day, means that there will not BIO any
attempt to reopen the mines until
Monday, September IL. It Is more than
likely that large number Of men will
be returned to work at once to get the
mines in readiness, but there Is 30
much to be done in the way Of repairs,
and so much danger to guard against,
that the full quota of anthracite work.
ers cannot resume their daily labor
before September IL. Well informed
mine men and union leaders admit that
It will take until October / at least
and probably longer TO. have the hard
coal operations in shape for resump-
ton Of mining on normal basis.
Work VIII Be Delayed
Ttmbers have rotted, mine rails have
been eaten by rust, cave-ins are threat
ened, machinery is rusted and water
has caused great damage. All these
mean delay IN getting the mines back
to old-time working form. Such delay
means curtaiIed production, and with
the national coalbin empty and prac-
ticaily no coal even the smaller sizes
in reserve, famine can DO averted
but coal shortage certainly must be
felt.
News that came TO $4,000 strikers
and their families and TO the millions
of people living in the anthracite
belt was received In the spirit OF
thanksgiving. In the churches to-day
congregations were large and clergy
men seized upon the opportunity to lift
up their voices in thanksgiving that
peace had come. They had caught the
spirit Of the people and in their pray
ers and their sermons thanks were
given that peace is here and that a
great mass of people are made happy.
Great Labor Day Planned
The real outburst of JOY that marks
the end Of the five months struggle
will come tomorrow Labor Day will
be a great one in the history Of the
anthracite region, one that the younger
generation will be talking about for
years to come. Mass meetings are
planted in every section by the local
unions. In many instances they are
tons. Speakers of note are being en-
gagged, bands are being hired and the
| gloom that has been pent up FOR many,
many weeks will give way to joy. The
/ strikers and their families feel that
! they have made good fight and that
| they have won good peace.
/ Preparations are being made for the
| tri-district convention to be held here
| Thursday. A call has to go out for
such convention, and that will be In
1 the hands of the union leaders by to-
morrow Local unions will elect dele
| gates, and it is likely that 1000 dele
gates will gather at the convention to
receive the reports Of their leaders and
act upon them. There is not the slight
| est doubt that the plan of Senators
| Pepper and Reed for settling the strike
| as accepted by the union leaders will
| be accepted by the men. There may be
| few "die-hards' on the part Of the
men who will hold up for still greater
concessions, but they will be hopelessly
in the minority. They will represent
more the inside politics of the organ
| ization than anything else.
| Thomas Kennedy will preside, and
according to present plans John L.
Lewis and Phil Murray will attend.
The convention is likely to be an open
one. 1t Is likely that the peace pact
will be ratified Thursday. The leaders
are counting on speed. 1t is not be-
| iieved that the men would want to re-
/ turn to work on Friday, but that the
| general voice OF the convention will be
for return to work on Monday, Sep
| TENDER IL.
| SCRANTON, Pa, Sept. S.--News that
an agreement had been reached ter
| minating the five months suspension
/ of anthracite esfline workers. was re-
ceived with Joy here to-day. Business
men and mine workers alike con-
! strued the agreement as an indication
! that this vicinity with it's thousands
/ of mine workers Is in for period of
unprecedented prosperity.
| Mine owners announced thaS they
| will be able to operate all their col
| lieries within few days after the
/ agreement is actually signed Most of
the mines are ready to operate be-
cause OF the fact that maintenance men