New-York tribune., 1922-03-12

Key to Whole Situation Is the
Attitude of Operators of
Western PENNSYLVANIA

AieHe III lhaV state II failure to arrange
central field conference develops.
The operators are counting on this
to result in partial disruption of the
onlon' and to make a strike, il one
comes, virtually ineffective, as Illinois
Is one of the big coal producing state.
or the country. Lewis and the other
administrative heads of the union.
however are confident they can check
mate Farripgton's or any other attempt
IN the way Of state agreements. and
they are also certain that large num-
Der of the non~union miners~uho.o
ratio Is about twenty to every eighty
OF the union miners--will Join n
strike, as many of them have done in
the past
The anthracite operators and miners
will meet in New York City March Is
IN an effort TO effect new agreement
While the hard coal miners, unlike the
miners in the bituminous fields are
asking Tor an increase and the opera
tors want decrease. both sides appear
ready to make concessions.
However, although an anthracite
agreement can be effected with consid-
erably more dispatch than bituminous
| agreement, it is likely that develop
ments III the bituminous fields will have
an important bearing on the progress
of the hard coal conference though the
miners have said they would abide bv
contract, If one is negotiated prior
to April /, regardless of whether the
soft coal miners strike.
The anthracite operators are taking
no chances on the outcome Of the meet
ing as is evidenced by reports from
travellers in Northeastern Peunsylvaria
to the effect that barricades are being
erected and other warlike preparations
made about the hard coal mines. Also.
1t IS reported that the Pennsylvania
constabularly is being recruited to more
than double its normal strength.
lhe Tribune Sends Questions
to Operators and Lewis
In order to fathom the exact attitude
OF the central competitive field in
refusing to meet the miners, The Trib
une last week sent the chief spokes-
man for each group a list of eipbt
questions. These were also sent to Mr.
Lewis, with a request for anv COM
10
operators with the exception of d. f.
Hurd' OF the Eastern Ohio group. the
Pittsburgh Vein Operators Association.
replied Following are the questions:
L Will the operators of the central
competitive field comply with the de-
sire of President Harding. that they
meet representa- tives of the United
Mine Workers prior to March 81 to
negotiate a new agreement?
g Which state group of operators in
the central competitive field is most
strongly opposed to such meeting and
which most strongly favors one?
3. Why have the Pennsylvania and
southern Ohio operators twice definite
" refused a meeting and why have the
! other operators of the central com
petitive field expressed Willingness
to be represented in one only?
4. What, in your opinion, would be
the effect on the price of coal to the
| public should a strike develop?
5. What are the figures as to the
railroad transportation of coal from
the mines of the central competitive
field for the last four weeks, as com
pared to the figures for the correspond
ing period in 1921, and why are great
numbers of empty coal cars to be OBJ
served on railroad sidings on the trunk
lines between New York and Kansas?
6. Approximately how much mined
J coal is now being held at the mines
in your state and what will be such
tonnage on April Il
T. How much coal, according to pres
ent indications, will be shipped from
the mines of your state and made avail
able to the consumer by April 1?
8. Do you care to reply to the charge
of the United Mine Workers that the
operators have violated clause in the
present agreement by refusing to meet
the miners representatives.?
Following, in part, are the replies
received, together with a statement
from President Lewis Of the miners,
and the text of the Department of
Labor appeal sent to the operators
I Thursday:
By R. w. Gardiner
| P1od.,caxs, ASsncia-