The Washington herald., 1922-03-22
Suspension Will REM
100000 Men From
Work. l
ANTRACITE FIELDS
ARE SYMPATHETIC
Wage Contract Expixes
Without Prospect of
Renewal.

NEW YORK. March .I-An-
proximately 100000 workers win
leave the coal mines APRIL. uu-
der the suspension order issued by
the United Mine Workers Of Ameri-
ca. President John L. Lewis de-
ciared tonight.
This number includes all union
workers and some unorgapized
miners who will stop work In the
bituminous and anthracite fields
The only difference between the
bituminous situation and the an
thracite situation is that in the
Iatter Industry miners and on
orators are now negotiating here
toward a new wage agreement.
while the bituminous operators
have refused TO meet the union
representatives
Miners OF both industries viii
suspend work because their pres-
ent wage contract expires March
81, and no agreement has been
reached TO replace f.
A settlement in the anthracite
Industry is not likely TO be found
before April !. When Lewis was
asked TO predict how long THIS
would take, he replied:
Il haven't any idea whether AZ
viii take four minutes or four
years"
VIII Protect Property.
No such drastic action is con-
templated as was taken bv tbe
British miners in their strike last
year when mines were totally
abandoned and even the pumps
deserted. with resultant great prop-
erty loss. In each mine. Lewis
said, there will be left a suf7cIeDt
force Of pump men and engineers
10 prevent damage to the mines.
Today district executive boards
OF the United Mine Workers met
TO appoint three delegates from
each district 70 a policy commit
tee which will meet az Cleveland
friday to complete plans Tor the
general suspension.
The first meeting Of the tof,r
subcommittee OF anthracite miners
and operators which is irving "a
reach an agreement on the nipe-
teen demands Of the workers va
held during the afternoon. ana
was afterward stated to have been
devoted 70 a general considers ton
OF the whole situation.
Operators Keep Quiet.
The operators. Lewis said. gave
no intimation as TO the size or the
wage cut which they have informed
the miners they are compelled" 10
make but may do so tomorrO~.
"hen the conference Is resumed.s
demands was taken up specifically
ana that the session was occupied
solely by a general discussion OF
present conditions in which the two
sides exchanged viewpoints.
The length Of time thess mep
stay out of the mines is in n uav
dependent on the financial resources
of the United Mine Workers" Lewis
asserted emphatically when no was
asked for an estimate on the size Of
the miners war chest" He de-
clared il was impossible to estimaf.,
the financial resources behfnd the
suspension.
The potential capacity Of the non
unionized bituminoUs workers. il was
said. is about $500. 900 tons a week
The organized fields produce an
proNimately 100000 tons in the
same period of capacity operation.
Whether the strike will seriously
affect the unorganized area. cannot
be predicted
Tie Up Hard Coal.
Production in the anthracite
mines, however. is expected l. be
completely tied up. The average an
thracite production amounts 10
about l,375.OOO tons per week.
The walkout Of the miners. Lewis
said, will be actually a coal strike
but the term suspension" could
well be used in the case Of the an
thracite industry. inasmuch as ne
gotiations are now in progress.
Further delay in the reaching Of
an agreement on the anthracite
wage question will result from sus-
pension OF the conferences OF the
joint subcommittee so that Lewis
and the three district presidents
may journey to Cleveland to attend
the meeting Friday OF the policy
committee of the United Mine Work
ers. The conferences will be re-
Eumed as early as possible.