The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1922-04-06
GOAL MINERS ALL
GO OUT ON STRIKE
PRESIDENT LEwIs DECLARES
UNION is DETERMINED TO
MAINTAIN DEMANDS
Coal Supply VIII Last But Few Weeks
In Opinion Of Strike Leaders;
Utilities VIII be the First
to Suffer

WnShingtOn.--The national coal |
strike is 100 per cent effective In the
unionlzed bituminous and anthracite
mines Of the country and is getting
support in nonunion territory, John L.
Lewis, president OF the United Mine
Workers, declared Sunday on his ar
rival here TO attend congressional
hearings.
There are 100000 miners ready to
stay out of the mines indefinitely,
until the operators are ready to dis.
cuss with us the question of new
wage agreements In the central com
petitive fields" MIR. Lewis declared,
adding that, while the union "court
ed investigation for anthracite and the
bituminous industry. It seeks no gov
eminent Intervention, but does ask
for the support OF public opinion in
forcing the operators TO continue col
lecive bargaining with miners over
wages and working conditions"
Discussing coal reserves and the OF.
feet of the strike ON the interests Of
consumers, Mr.. Lewis strongly OK
pressed his opinion that "a pinch
would come earlier than expected"
| He declared nonunion mine produc-
ton had been greatly exaggerated"
and that operators had been more or
less openly following tactics that
forced a strike 30 thdy could get
higher prices and greater profits.
"There won't be single man re-
turn to work this week." Mr.. Lewis
said, "from the 100000 men who went
out. 1t takes a little longer In the
nonunion fields for us to get the re-
ports. In the West Virginia panhan-
die, for instance, right along the Ohio
line, there are about 5000 OF 5000 men
In nonunion mines for whom meetings
are being held. They'll probably be
out soon. There are meetings here and
there in nOnunion territory all over
the United States. Wen get the
returns later. In the union territory
we know what happened. the opera
tors aren't even going TO try to run
the mines"
Taking notice of the suggestion by
Chairman Borah of the senate labor
committee that the government ought
to intervene further into the situa-
ton. Mr.. Lewis remarked that he was
afraid nothing much could be dono
with the operators"
Every attempt has been made to
get them to meet their obligations to
continue collective bargaining with
u.s." he continued, "and assume they
will maintain their refusal no matter
who tries to get them to confer. We
stand ready, now as ever, TO enter any
conference with them 20 discuss the
terms Of new wage contract which
will allow us TO resume work.
IF the miners today we're occupy
ing the position of refusing to dis.
cuss a wage contract. as the opera
tors are. they'd be morally caBtigated
by all the citizens of this land"
Although the operators regard each
other as competitors" Mr.. Lewis said,
and are not acting in concert, I'VE
know that we can't get a general
wage scale without unity OF action in
the central competitive field. because
difference OF a cent a day In wages
means cents per ton in the selling
price of coal, makes turmoil in mar
kets and closes up old mines to open
new ones"
''Still they were unit In wanting
suspension" he continued. "They had
loaded up all the big consumers with
coal on the strike scare. and held up
the market prices while the loading
was going on. Now they think that
II trey're shut down long enough
therell be a scarcity, and a runaway
market. Their disposition made the
strike inevitable"
Mr.. Lewis estimates the maximum
production OF the nonunion mines ut
100000 tons week, much Of which
he said, was good only for coke. Furth-
er. he declared. the middle west could
not pay the freight TO get nonunion
coal 10 them.
watch the public utility companies
in the smaller cities" the strike lead
er said. "They Will be hit first. The
big cities are pretty well stocked, but
the little ones are not"
Mr.. Lewis expected TO remain in
Washington as long as his presence
is required, but said he had no engage
ments with President Harding to ex-
ecutive officers.