The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-04-05
A CONTEST
OF CAPITAL
AND LABOR
Miners Union Deter
mined to Prostrate
Industry Of Nation
i. n e C ess S ary to
Garry Their Point

indianapolis. MarcD 81 eBy the
Associated Press .)-ceal produc-
ton was stopped tonight by the
union miners, who quit their days
work in the mines of 20 states with
the avowed policy of remaining idle
indefinitely in an effort to force the
operators TO accept the miners
terms for new wage contracts.
officials at the headquarters
here of the United Mine Workers
OF America declared The suspension
would not only. includ" a half mil
lion workers but also at least 1o0,-
600 non-unien men would join in
the walk cut. No last minute in
structions were issued from head
quarters and the only significant
conference held during the day by
President John l.. Lewis was with
, I.onHie Jackson, president OF the
Kentucky union district. where 81
600 union men will continue at
work because their contract with
operators haS another year to run.
During the day Mr.. Lewis de-
clared the suspension of work by
Kansas union miners would not be
ayerted by the action of tho Kan
sas industrial court ordering that
| wage scales of the last two years
be continued for so days. In a
formal statement tonight the union
chief declared the nationwide
/; waikout would affect hundreds OF
thousands Of citizens not directly
engaged in the coal industry. and
he. reiterated his charge that the
operators had forced the strike
| upon the. miners
In additioSto the Kentucky ri;n-
ers. union men in Nova Scotia Will
remain at work but those in the
Western. Canadian provinces were
expected to Join the suspension.
/ The conference over the kentucky
situation was said by it's .partici-
pants to have been a general re-
view of the situation there with
President Lewis taking the position
that the union must obey its con-
tract with the operators.
Numerous reports from the coal
fields of the country also reached
! headquare recrs, which Mr.. Lewis de-
clared indicated a complete tic up
OF all union fields. These reports
also showed that 1900 union men
| would be left in the mines TO pro-
tect. the property from damage and
the only trouble between operators
and miners in this connection was
reported from Washington where
operators were said to be object
| ing to paying the wages provided
for in the contracts that expired =
! midnight.
Mr.. Lewis, formal statement re-
| gardinE the suspension Of work
| follows:
The strike upon which the
United Mine Workers Of America
are entering is not Il question OF
! small magnitude nor one to be
| tightly considered by the American
! people. II is fraught with far
reaching consequences and serious
responsibilities as affecting the pub
| lie veal The withdrawal Of in
excess OF 100000 men from the
/ mines of the country constitutes a
serious problem. Aside from the
inevitable coal shortage which will
| ensue, to the profit Of coal opera
tors and to the detriment of the
public. it will cause dislocation Of
industry throughout the nation.
! affecting hundreds of thousands Of
citizens in other walks Of life.
! This is a deplorable condition
and constitutes q sad commentary
/ upon the relationships Of employer
and employee in American indus
ttry. Every thoughtful man recos-
| nizes that in the end a settlement
OF the problems of the mining in
| dustry must perforcc be effected.
Such settlement must come through
| joint conference with accredited
representatives of til. mine work
ers Of the nation.
! IT is most unfortunate. because
(, of he arbitrary attitude Of the coal
operators. that such Il meeting can
/; lot he assembled until the coun-
| tr.- has endured the agony and
convulsionS involved IL IN .rduS-
tria. strike on such d gigantic scale.
| IN t,e present issue the public has
been lulled in {. sense OF false Sc
curity by the soothing statements
| Of those who will profit through q
strike
The mine workers repeatedly
! have called attention to those
! faces and our statements have gone
unheeded. The responsibility must
! therefore be with those who have
| brought about the present Situii-
! ton seeking 10 push the miners
! backward.
AS selt-respectins citizens we
are resolved 10 stand in opposition
to those who deny us u living Wage
and ol.I. proper aspirations for an
/ American standard Of living.
Indianapolis. April contid9nt
i that the suspension OF work be-
! gun AT midnight by the union coal
miners would result in (; complete.
! tieup Of the country> unlonized
fields. min" workers officials await
| 81 rnor,to y, C,,.j,oc, tho ..y.rr -