The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-02
LEWIS ESTIMATES COAL MINES
 CLOSED BY STRIKE
Union Field Leaders Planning Meetings to Gain All Sup- port Possible From Non-
 Union Men
By Associated Prsnn


 Indianapolis, April 1.--Complets suspension of coal mining by union workers marked the beginning today of the national walk-out ordered by the United Mine Workers of Amer ica. Union leaders estimated 600,- ] 900 miners, including 100000 non union men had enlisted in the move ment and predicted no change was expected soon.
 The exact effectiveness of the sus- pension, especially in non-union and partly organized fields, was difficult to gauge. however, because today also marked the anniversary of the intro Guction of the eight-hour work day in the coal industry and is an annual holiday in the coal fields. Neverthe- less, union officials were confident (that no union men. except those au- itkorized to stay at work, would re- turn to the mines on Monday.
 Union headquarters here prepared TO tabulation showing the geograph- icaI distribution of the idle men, but the reports from field l,aders showed the great bulk of the suspension cen- tered in Pennsylvania. West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana. Illinois, Missouri, Kan sas, Iowa and nearby southwestern states. Reports from other fields were somewhat vague, and union of hcials did not expect an exact show ing for the entire country would be . available before the middle of next r.. hi.:::::: '.'.:: Y s:..: s:-::. ::'.-.... that s,tW of the 7,5Oo mines in the country that nave been operating re- gently had been closed. and in addl- ton it was pointed out that 2,5Oo mines have been idle for some time. Changes in the suspension were ex- pected to be relatively slow in boom ing apparent, but indications of pos sible spread of it's effect developed at points where railroads laid off many crews operating coal trains.
 Union leaders declared they were not expecting any early defection from the miners ranks on account of any operators attempting to resume work on an open shop basis. How ever. the union men declined to ex- press any opinion on the probable action of the organized workers in the partly unionized fields, where the situation was regarded as hinginS largely on the attitude of non-union employees.
 al of nntan planning meetings in the next few days, their purpose being to gain as much support as possible from nom union workers In the districts hit hardest by the suspension the union leaders regarded any break in their battle front as impossible.
 Planning to Reeume
 The anthracite fields. of Pennsyi- yania and the big soft coal area com prising the central competitive field and the southwest interstate district were believed by the union officials as already started on an indefinite and prolonged suspension. Reports also indicated that the other coal fields were closed today, but opera tors in some of these districts were said to be planning to resume work soon.
 Mines in Western Canada were re- ported as closet, but those in Nova Scotia were in operation. Five thou sand union miners in Kentucky also were scheduled under the unions program to remain at work, MT. Lewis declaring that this was in har- mony with a contract with operators that has another year to run. In ad- dition 13,ooo union mon were to re- main in the mines to protect the properties from damage, but reports to union headquarters here indicated that disputes had developed in Iowa. Montana and Washington as to the wages to be paid these maintenance men, The union leaders in these states were insisting that the wages provided in the contracts expiring last midnight be continued, while op- orators were said to be seeking re- auctions.
 Tn addition to marking the anniver- sary of the miners eight-hour work day and the beginning of their first suspension of work simultaneously, involving both anthracite and bitumi- nous fields, today also is known as the beginning of the "coal year" As such, "summer prices" for coal have been fixed in the past. the margin of
 (Contfnued on Page Two.)