Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-20
Center of Strike
Shifts to Fields
Continued from PAGE One

Continued from Pase One
initial to President Harding. but were
frankly puzzled by his announced In L.
tcntiOn TO ask sanction Of the Federal
Government to take over and operate
the mines in Michigan under State
control.
Lansing. Mich. July 20.--By A.
l.. )--(iovcrnor Alex j. Grocsbeck, in q
telegram prepared for transmittal tc
President Harding today asked the
sanction Of the Federal Government for
plnn to take over and operate NJ Micti
gan coal mines under state control.
The message asked whether the Fed
ernl Government would join with the
state in taking over and directing re-
sumption Of operations in the minet.
The Uovernur's decision TO seek Fed
reached after n dny and night spent
in unsuccessful efforts to bring about
agreement between the miners and
operators in the Saginaw coal district.
1t followed defeat of two proposals he
offered the miners and operators.
The first was that Michigan miners
be allowed to adjus: their differences
and return to work independent of their
national Affiliations. which was refused
by John l.. Lewis. international head
Of the mine workers. The second was
the refusal Of the miners themselves to
throw the weight Of their Endorsement
into his plea for separate peace in
Michigan.
The Governors personal investiga :
tion and conferences at Saginaw yes
tcrdny showed. he declared. that
neither the workers nor employers have
any major grievance and that the men
are out only because workers in other
said. that there is no illfeelng In the
district.
He believes. he said. that the State
could man and operate the mines-tho
chief producing ones at least-and that
the miners. IL offered the opportunity
and able to do so without risking out =
lnwrv from their organization, would
be glad 10 return to work.
1t was intimatcd that. IL necessary
authority 10 proceed with his plan is
accorded. the entire resources Of the
state police and the National Guard II
necessary would be thrown into the
work Of producing coai. in event the
striking miners declined TO return to
work.
Pittsburgh. Pa. July 20.-(By" A
L. p.)--Workmen will be lowered today
into some Of the pits in the Pittsburgh
bituminous coal districts to clean ur
the entries and to prepare for the min
ers who. operators say. were expected
to answer the call for work under the
plan proposed by President Harding
Leaders Of the United Mine Workers
professed no alarm. saying their men
had been ordered 70 stay away from tn,
mines and that the strike was still ir
progress.
Two mines are already preparcd for
operation. operators said. carefully laid
plans for resumption having been halted
while arbitration negotiations were in
progress in Washington. Four Others
were selected this afternoon for carly
opening. and the prediction was heard
that before the middle Of next weei
this number will be largely increased
Determination TO resume work was
taken at meeting OF the Pittsburgh
Coal Operators Association earlier il
the day when it was announced that th'
members Of that organization will pu
into effect the wage scale OF 1917
Member companies Of this association
employ the njor!ty of the 40. 900 unior
miners in the district who have been or
strike since April |. The other asso'
citation is made UP of fifteen companle
whose mines work what is known a.
tho Freeport thick vein. They arr
scheduled TO meet tomorrow at noon nnC
action similar to that Of tho Produc
ers' Association was expected.
lIOrgantOwn. ". Va. July 2O.-Coa
operators. representing the majority o
tonnage in the Morgantown district
III mines are in sympathy with Presi
dent iarding'S plan to reopen mines. &
y. Junkins, secretary OF the Mononga
hcln Coal Association. wired the Ma
tons Executive yesterday.
\ Joint meeting Of the organization
md rho Northern West Virginia Goa
Operators Association will be held il
Farmont Saturday. Definite plans ar
expected TO BE- worked out To conform
with the Presidents = suggestions.
MorgantOwn operators await only tn
promised definite Instructions from tn
President as 70 the operation of tn
mines to start active preparations I
produce coal, il was stated here.