The Topeka state journal., 1922-04-03
Head of Union Strikers at
Washington to Confer.
Tells House Labor Committee
He Welcomes Questions.
KANSAS ACTION ON TODAY
Operators and Miners to Talk
at Kansas City.
Early Estimates of Men Idle
VIII Hold, Belief.

Suspension of work in the union
coal mines of the country virtually
was complete today, according to re-
ports received from union sources up
TO noon and claims were made that
the miners cause had been strength
ened by walkouts in some non-union
precincts.
President Lewis of the miners told
the house labor committee resumption
of work depended entirely on oper-
ators. whose refusal TO confer, he said,
provoked the suspension.
Miners claimed complete tieup In
New River fields of West Virginia,
non-union territory heretofore
Scranton anthracite mining district
reported suspension hundred per cent
effective with 10000 men and boys
idle.
Non-union Panhandle district of
West Virginia was idle with 3 500 nom
union men joining the walkout. min
ers' officials asserted. Geological
survey announced bituminous produc-
tion of IL u million tons in week end
ed March 25. confirming the surveys
forecast OF 63 million tons in cOnsum-
ers' hands April l.
Kansas operators made no effort 20
open mines pending separate meeting
of miners and operators IN Kansas
City today to disalss industrial courts
order for thirty-day continuance old
working arrangements. Meeting in
Chicago of rail union groups today ex-
pectcd to discuss relations of railroad
workers to the miners suspension of
work.
Presidents of the three anthracite
districts travelled to New York to re-
sumo wage negotiations with opera
tors subcommittee.
Washington. April at Union coal
miners who suspended work Saturday
in the nations bituminous and anthra-
cite fields we're declared today by
John l. Lewis. president of the L.
NJ w A to be desirous of ending
the suspension of mining operations
at the earliest possible date but the
resumption of coal production entirely
depends upon the future attitude of
the coal operators"
He Welcomes Intervention?
Mr.. Lewis made that declaration
before the house labor committee
which is holding hearings on the
Bland resolution to direct appointment
by the president of a commission to
investigate the coal industry He as
serted that his organization would well
come any impartial and judicial in
veStigat ton of the general conditions
in the bituminous and anthracite coal
industries and especially the facts re-
lating to investments and profits. op-
Grating practices. conservation of fuel
resources, application of uniform
methods Of safeguarding life and limb
Of the workers and industrial rela-
such an investigating body" he
added. should be clothed with full
power to ascertain the truth. to send
for persons and papers and to take
testimony under oath. The personnel
OF such a commission should be free
from political equations and the mine
workers should be give adequate rep
resentation thereon
Says GOvernment Doesn't Know.
LAS to the adjustment of contro-
versies between operators and mine
workers we have been traditionally op-
posed TO governmental intervention"
Mr. Lewis continued.
We have been convinced by ex-
perience that such adjustments may
be more effectively and equitably
worked out both in the interest of the
public and of those engaged in the
industry by conference and agree
ment between representatives of the
operators and the mine workers If the
operators had maintained their con-
tract with us the present deplorabIe
conditions of affairs in the soft coal
industry would not have arisen.
All difference should have been
settled by agreement and a suspension
of work and general breakdown in
the industry avoided. Our experience
with labor adjustment boards of COM
missions has been that representative
of the public not having the knowl-
edge of the technique Of the coal min
ing industry and not being completely
informed as to the different condf-
ton as might be expected are not in a
position TO reach as satisfactory con-
clusion as those who are actively en-
gagged in the practical operation OF
the mines.
In joint conference at New York
on March 81. 1920 a two-year agree
fCsonffnned an paCe to