The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-04-28
survey OF COAL
ST'RIKERElEAES
WORKERS | SOLID
Fight eenters sMonongahela
River as Dividing Line
ofaUnlon.
saYlc G. LYoM.

~ CO. LYON.
Since the nat oh.wide coal tie.up
began April a i have visited all the
storm centera. The present status
seems TO be this;
Coal operators and miners ap'
near 10; agree the strike will last
several months longer. High Off
Gals Of the United Mine Workers
say three months. Many operators
say six months.
Probably the biggest operator in
Ohio, who has always operated
union mines, told me:
You'll find the big operators Of
the country will be In no hurry to
sign q new scale. In the long run
We feel &c will be money in our
jackets to SIT tight until October
fife country, with fair surplus ~
coal now on hand and with the non
union fields still producing even
though a diminished supply, can
slimp along until fall. When the
real pinch comes the big operators
viii then talk business with the
United Mine Workers. But mine
wages must come down."
on u. s. Intervention.
one ot the best Informed OF the
distrtct presidents OF the miners
union said
washington won't make any
real EFFORT 10 force settlement Of
the strike until the pressure starts
from railroads, steel mills. public
utilities and manufacturers In
about two months from now the
coal spileslof all these interests will
he about exhausted and then they'll
get scared. Hook for the strike to
be over. and the men back in the
mines within three months"
Everywhere have gone-in
PENNSYLVANIA, West Virginia, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois, have found
the public apathetic. With mild
weather already here and with
summer coming on, the average
family isn't worrying. Many OF
Them haven't yet carried out last
wirtey's ashes.
Steel Industry Punched.
The steel industry is already feel
ing the pinch, because the supply
Of coke has been cut down. Thou
sands Of non.union miners and coke
workers in the Connellsville coke
region have Joined the union and
quit their jobs.
In the steel districts today there
IS ON every. hand a general slowing
down as part Of a program to con
serve both coal and coke.
The United Mine Workers are
stronger today than they were on
April q, when the strike began.
The strike Is still 100 per cen.
effective in all the union fields.
There are more coal miners cn
strike today than on April 1. The
additions have come from the non
union fields.
The Monongahela River has been
the dividing line between the union
and non:union fields In western
Pennsylvania. When the strike wag
called, the United Mine Workers
sent their best organizers to
Bfpwnsyille and from there the
drive on thelnon.union fields has
been directed.
Unions Strengthened.
Rapidly, the idea Of unionism has
spread from the river into the non.
union fields until today most Of the
mines and coke ovens in and about
Uniontnwn are idle.
Gonnellsville Is still the strong
hold Of tie non.union coal and coke
operators. The territory near Con!
nelIsyitle IS dominated by the Prick
interests, subsidiaries Of the United
States Steel Corporation.
rhe union drive" is now directed
toward a penetration Of the Con.
nellsYitle .'basin.'
IN West Virginia there are 49,.
900 coal miners Of whom 10000
are unloniSed,
The Winding Cult district. south.
east o. Charleston, is the non.unior
stronghold. but already the unions
have 1900 members out Of a total
OF 900 men who were working
Ia the district when the strike be.