Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-30
MINER CHIEFS ASSERT
FIGHT TO BE LONG ONE
DO Not Believe Washington
Will Take Any Strong
Arm Action.
ro>r SCALE IN KA>AwnA FIELD
Owners set WnRe Figures mt Ap-
proNImntry Thosc obtaining
In 1917.
By Clayton whitehiiI,

United Ncws stan Correspondent.
WAsIfINGToN. March 2s-On the
'vc Of the coal STRIFE scheduled Tor
midnight. March 81, the great qucs-
. ton facing both labor leaders and
operators Is "wha, viii the gov
cruncnt do
Attorney General DauGherty has
stated tha, one mtnut, after mid
night something w:ll happen" La.
bor leaders declare that II thl.
something" is strong action
--con"eyinI thc possible threa, of
imprisonment, of the STRIFE leaders
their walk out will be Il success."
But doubt was expressed both by
miners representatives. and spokes-
mcn for the operators that the ad-
mintsirai!on is actually contemplate
ins any such drastic action to stop
the strike or force settlement
VIII Not Hnit Utilities.
II Tor no other reason, they ar
gac. political considerations would
prohab bis forbid such a course But
'he main reason lies IN tho fact that.
according TO surveys made by gov
'.nmcn, agencies. the strlk. might
80 on FOR ninety days wi;h no fear Of
breakdown OF the utilities Of the
country or hardship on the part OF
ihc people. Public service vompa-
n'es throughout the country having
been warned TO put In surplus stockr,
have enough Goa! on hand generally
speaking. TO last them from q month
and half 10 two months and a half.
ma some have aurpluses sufficient
10 run them from ..e 10 SIX montbe
So, 1t is adm ! by labor lead
"rs here. that the forthcoming strik
lacks much of the dramatic cl,sien
aud force that ii might have under
different CIRCUMSTANCES. Ana they aiS
not worried AT rumcrs Of the govern
mont injecting tn. dramatic into tn
situation by injunctions or irnprison.
mont, They look rather for a some
what drawn-out. peaceful strike tina
ultimately viii he settled on a fun.
damental business basis. with the
Sovernmon, probably taking the in.
!tiativc.
Arrests Have Bnd Ancrt.
Experience has proved that il
general the imprisonment Of leader
has no cnec, on a strike" prom
iucn; mine union official told the
United News. putting strike lead
crs in Jail makes martyrs OF them,
And England. for example. has long
since realized that jailing strik
leaders is suicidal. Furthermore
tAis strike. and any other strike 10
mat matter. is not the work OF Al
individual or group OF. individuals
but is program accepted by IN
, isnk and file Of workers"
In American Federation OF Labo
circles i, is the conviction tha
neither Congress nor tho admins
tration would favor any drastic step
10 force the miners into a settlemen
st this time because OF the approa CHI
!ne fan congressional campaign.
Such coercion, leaders declare. wouI
cause organized labor as whole
I" vote as a unit for the firs; tim
against Republican candidates
Eject To Be Widespread.
The. scope of this coal strike is
greater than is suspected by the pub.
lie at this time" one federation Of
fetal declared TO the writer. 1T will
not be dramatic strike from thu
standpoint of mob scenes, but will he
silent war bound to involve di-
rcctly Or indirectly many more than
the mining industry before the
strike last through number of
months. it will be found that related
Industries. such as the railroads,
lonGshorcmcn, and steel workers
Continued on Page 9, Col. ~