Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-22
NINE STRIKE ORDER
CALLS OUT 100000
MEN ON APRIL FIRST
Biggest Walkout In History OF
Anthracite and 6ituminous
Industry, Lewis Says.
WARNED AGAINST VIOLENCE

New York. March s2.-The off,cisl
order for a general strike Of 100000
hl,uminous and anthracite coal
miners IN the United states and
Canada. effective at midnight March
~. was issued here yesterday by John
l.. Lewis. International President of
tho United Mine Workers Of America.
The suspension order. In the malls
on tho way to the 1900 local unions
or the United Mine Workers. pro-
yldcs for the calling out OF all workers
except those that are necessary ito
insure the proper care and protection
~ all mining property"
Calling upon the miners 10 exercise
good Judgment. moral courage and
loyalty the decree warns that no
violence must hc attempted during the
strike. and there must he no yio-
lation of the law nor disturbance of
the public peace"
The miners organization will not
pay any regular strike benefits. MIR.
Lewis said. but steps will be taken TO
provide for all needy members. He
pointed out that the local unions had
been preparing for the walk FOR
scme time and many of them had sub
stantial sums in their treasury. Union
officials said many State organiza-
tions had larg. war chests" point
inS out that the Illinois miners were
reputed 10 have a fund of about So
600. 600 available
The strike order which bears the
signatures of President Lewis and
Philip Murray. international Vice
President and William Green. in
ternational Secretary. declared that
the referendum vote Of the bituminous
miners had been Overwhelmingly for
suspension of work
Mr.. Lewis explained that copies Of
the strike call had been sent To every
district of the union except 10 the
maritime provinces OF Nova Scotia
and New Foundland. Canada. where
wage negotiations are stil under way
The Western provinces OF Canada
irClading British Columbia. Alberta
and skatchewan however. are
covered by the suspension order as
Is also every union coal field in the
United States.
Under the clause leaving necessary
maintenance help at work MIR. Lewis
yinemen. watchmen and other essential
workmen would he exempted from par
tlcipatins IN the strike. Of this mum.
her. he said. approximately 1000 would
be loft at work in the hard coal region
Final arrangements and details foi
the conduct of the walk-out. Mr.. Lewis
eaid. would he decided upon at the
meeting Of the General Policy Com
mit,ee of the United Mine Worker.
% be held in Cleveland next Friday.
This will be the greatest strike ir
the history Of the coal industry" Mr.
Lewis declared. This is the first time
that the hituminous and the anthracite
mine worker has merged his tremend
Gus economic powers. The miners q
the country are prepared for a fnisi
nght.
Every union mine in the countr!
undcuhte edly will be shut down by thi
suspension and the walk -out in tn
unionized anthracite coal fields will b
100 per cent"
The strike order. Mr.. Lewis said. hai
been sent out from the union. head
quarters in Indianapolis. having bee
authorized by him by telegraph.
Duration Of Strike.
Mr. Lewis. commenting on the cal
said that he could make no estimat
rs 20 how long the mines would RENAL
idle.
That" said he. would be a matte
of ruesswork"
Referring 10 the meeting with IN
anthracite operators. Mr.. Lewis sal
nothing more definite was presente
by the operators than was stated !
their recently published reply TO IN
unions demand for a 20 per cent in
Crea~e.
In that the operators declared ths
reduction in labor costs is necessar
~ the public Is 10 receive cheape
fuel.
No progress was reported yesterda
a. a result OF the conference betwee
the operators and miners. under wa
here.
GnNERk To pR0IEGT