New-York tribune., 1922-04-01

I.ewis's Statement

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Lewis's Statement
In his formal statement Lewis said:
The strike Sron which the Unit sd
Mine Workers or America are entering
is not u Qtse stion Of smali magnitude
ror one to be lightly considered by the
American people. 1t is fraught with
far-reaching consequences and serious
responsibilities as affecting public
al The withdrawal OF in excess of
eeo. GOO men from the mines Of the
cogntry constitutes a serious problem.
Aside from tbs Inevitable coal shortage
which will ensue to the profit of coal
operators and to the detriment of the
public. it will cause disIocation of
industry throughout the nation, af-
fecting hundreds Of thousands of citi-
zens In other walks of life.
This is a deplorablc condition and
constitutes sad commentary upon the
relationships of employer and employee
n American industry. Every thought
full man recognizes that in the end
settlement OF the problems Of the min
ing industry must perforce be effected.
Such settlement must ccme through
joint conference with accredited rep
resentatives of the mine workers of
the nation.
st is most unfortunate because of
y
ators that such meeting cannot be
assembled until the country has en-
oured the agony and convulsions in
Nolved in an Industrial strife on such
gigantic scale. In the present issue
the public has been lulied in a sense
Of false security BY the soothing state
wents OF those who will profit through
3 strike.
Blames Operators
The mine workers repeatedly have
called attention to those facts and our
statements have gone unheeded. TIE
responsibility must therefore be with
those who have forced the present st-
0atIen and are seeking to beat the
miners backward.
AS self respecting citizens we are
resolved to stand in opposition to those
who deny us living wage and our
standard of living"
The unions officers announced to-
Gay that the miners in one district, in
addition to that previously announced.
you'd be permitted to continue at work
'rey announced at the time the sus-
pension order wse sent out that the
district of Nova Scotia was not TO be
affected because wage negotiations were
onder way in that district. To-day they
SAID 5000 union miners of western
kentucky also would stay at work. The
wage contract in that district does not
expire until April /, 1923, they said. so
there is no occasion for Il suspension
Of work there.
All other union miners, except abe ut
100000 specially designated men, in
cluding bumpers, engineers and FIRE
nep, who have been ordered to stay al
work to protect mine properties, are
expected to quit work with the expira-
ton of the wage agreements in all the
other fields to-day. District officers
taTe received instructions to select the
men who are TO stav at work and to sec
that mine properties are protected
against damage from water. There are
1000 miners in tho Nova Scotia dis
trict. or in al about 27,O00 union mer
will remain at work.
Many Mines Close Ahead of Time
Although the wak-out is not vet j,
effect production has halted in msns
mines Of the nation already. Lack OF
demand has caused the early shut -dowr
In most eases. the miners not returning
70 work because the operators were
unable TO move any further amount OF
coal and had no storage facilities,
Merton J.. Could, president of the
lbaiana Bitumnous Coal Operators
association, announced to-day that thu
sca'c committee of the Indiana oper
ators would meet at Terre Haute Tues
day to consider what shall be the mex
step OF the operators in the wage con
trovcrsy There is no truth in the re
port that the Indiana operators haC
planned TO post notices of new wage
scale in their mines for the miners tc
read as they left work this afternoon
NJ. Gould said.
Operators and miners alike were com
nlenting on the seeming apathy of th'
public toward the strike situation
that stocks of coal are adequate, ant
public suffering is not feared, at leas
early in the strike
AS the hour of the suspension o
work ncared, the union officers re
peated that no attempt at force or VIC
lence cn the part of the striking miner
VIII be countenanccd. They have sen
special instructions, urging that tn
strike be conducted in an orderly man
ner, and that force nSt be resorted t.
on any occasion, and tiey said they ex
pected no difficulties to arise.
Permit Production for Emergencies
An important feature OF the presen
strike situation was the attitude of th
union toward permitting productiou o
coal for emergencies to keep waite
pumping stations, light plants an,
other utilities in operation. The uniol
officers have said that the mining o
coal for such emergencies will be per
mitted and that far as their order
can affect the situation they will no
compel the public 10 suffer by lack o
water or necessary light ana power
NO coal, however, is to be produced b,
union men for commercial purposes.