New-York tribune., 1922-03-22
Order of Union Leaders
Is Sent to Bituminous
and Anthracite Workers
of America and Canada
Vote 9 to | for
General Walk-Out
Non-Union Men Expect
ed to Join i'm Protest
AgainstOperators'Stand
ss.csa, D4spotos to rns Tribune

INDIANAPOLIS, March 2l.-The
formal call for a suspension of min
ing operations at midnight on March
81, in both the bituminous and
anthracite coal mining districts of the
country, was sent out to-day from the
headquarters of the United Mine Work
ers Of America. Circulars bearing the
call, which has been expected since the
failure of the miners and operators to
meet in conference to formulate a new
wage agreement, were sent to all local
unions. The call was addressed to
about 5000 local unions.
The order was dispatched despite the
fact that the strike vote is being
counted However, the vote thus far
indicates TO / majority in favor of
suspension, as q weapon to force mine
owners into interstate wage confer
erces.
Anthracite non-union workers will
join the union men in the strike, ac-
cordlng to predictions at union head
quarters, making total of approx
mately 100000 men idle. The unor~
gained miners in anthracite fields gem
orally have followed the union in it's
action on wage matters during the past.
This is the first time strike order has
called {or all union miners in the
United States to quit at given time
VIII Close 5000 Mines
Six thousand of the nations $500
taines will be closed when the oper-
md
directly over the operators constant
refusal to negotiate new wage scale
20 eupplant the one now in force but
81 indirectly involves the miners de-
msnds for g siX-hour day, five-day
week and the operators position for
lower wages.
It was said here at The miners head
quarters that they will strike "till the
COWS come home" to force the oper-
ators into conference, as provided by
the existing scale contract They will
not receive strike benefits from the in
ternstional union, but the local and
stste unions may help their members
financially.
The United Mine Workers of America
has = membership of about 900 men,
q whom about 100000 are in Canada
About 215,0Q0 men are in the central
ii,
Ohio, Illinois and Western Pennsyl-
vania. About $4,000 union men are in
the anthracite field in Pennsylvania,
ana an equal number in the same field
are non-unlon. In the past the non
union anthracite workers usually have
gone out with the union men.
Inc wage agreement between miners
ssnd operators expires at midnight
'Narch 81. In the past it has been the
custom Tor the union and the operators
10 get together IN joint wage confer
ence shortly before the expiration of
me agreement and negotiate a new
Nage scale and schedule of working
conditions.
Operators Refuse Conference
This year, however, the operators
81 the Pittsburgh and Southern Ohio
districts have refused to meet the min
ers IN conference, although President
iewls, of the miners, has twice sent
out calls for preliminary meetings to
arrange such conferences. The opera
sors Of the other states in the central
heid, although they have not refused
could see nothing to be gained by a
meeting unless all the states in the
held were represented
The recent convention of the union
N Indianapolis, which was an ad-
lourned session OF the biennial conven-
tion Of last fall. went on record as
aeclarlng in favor of a wage scale
mat would not be a reduction from
sne present scale and in favor of a
Six-hour day and five day week. 1t
also authorized the appointment of a
policy committee that will direct the
strike. This policy committee will
v'il meet in Cleveland Friday to per-
feet their plans.
:, AT Ierrc liaute to-day members of
she wage scale committee of the Indi-
Continued page four)