The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-04-01
HITS EVERY
AVENUE: OF
BUSINESS
Gigantic Labor Tie-Up Hailed
as Showdown Between
Capital and Labor
BIZ GEORGE X. HOLMES.
STAFF CORRESPONDENT /. N. sERvrc

lSihfF SOrhtSPOhDkHi !. NJ SERViCEI
WASHINGTON, April with
out furry and without excitement.
there began today the greatest la
bor tieup in the nations history
a tieup involving at the outset ap-
proximately 100000 bituminous and
anthracite coal miners, and effect
ing directly every avenue of bust
ness and Industrial life.
From Pennsylvania to the north
west, and from the lakes to the
gulf. the nations unionized coal
mines in twenty states were idle
today. Only in the comparatively
restricted area of the non-union
mines we're picks still being swung
and cars shutting coal to the rail-
roads
Under the watcl1ful eye OF the
government, the gigantic tieup will
be allowed to run its course, to be-
come the long awaited shown
down" between capital and labor in
the basic coal industry. Having
failed in all efforts to persuade the
coal operators to negotiate with
the miners. there was nothing left
for the government to do, officials
said. but warn both sides to sit
back and await developments.
To the mine owners; no profiteer-
ing. To the miners: no violence
Let 'er gon' might well have been
the message sent out from Wash
ington to the opposing sides.
There Will be no Intervention
from the government until the
pinch of public discomfort cornpels
the government to step in and bring
both sides to the conference table.
That will be at least two months.
possibly three. yet, according to
census OF opinion among authori-
ties here.
Surveys conducted by government
departments for the last few weeks
indicate that, generally speaking,
business can go through coal
strike OF sixty days with very lit
tie. il any, discomfort But it will
not be long after the sixty day per-
iod until reserve stocks of coal will
be depleted. and restricted business
will compel the government to take
a hand.
The administration does not view
the walkout with apprehension or
alarm, at least in its early stages.
The enormous reserve stocks Of coal
on hand in all industries and public
utilities, with con sumption daily
decreasing because Of the approach
Of summer. are factors that make
for an easy beginning.
The most serious aspect OF the
upheaval. S viewed by government
officials here, is the depressing ef-
feet il will have on business gener-
ally. There is every indication that
the strike will prove a long one.
officials said, and this will tend to
make business "skittish" even
though there is no immediate dan
ger Of coal famine.
Great manufacturing concerns.
making their production charts for
months ahead. viii have to pro-
ceed cautiously, IL they can pro-
ceed at all. and this same condition.
to a varying decree. will prevail in
nearly every line OF industry. This
will make for an unsettled condi-
tion OF business that In turn will
make its effect felt for months to
come.
AS viewed by Administrations to-
day, a long drawn out contest in
wolves these three dangers to the
business life OF the country:
Initiation of prices generally
induced by scarcity OF commodi-
Continued on mage three)