The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-01
COAL MINERS in
20 STATES STOP
ON CLOCK TICK
Half a Million Unionists and
100, 900 Non Union Men to Re
main Out Indefinitely.
MINERS PRESIDENT
DEPLORES CONDITIONS
Calls It Sad Commentary Public
Suffers to Get Living
Wage for Men.
(By The Associated Press)

(By The Associated Press)
SHAMoKIN. Pa, March 81. - Ap-
lproximately. 10000 anthracite workers
drought their tools up from more than
I75 collieries tonight.
EAZELTON, Pa, March 31.-Min-
Eers of the Lehigh and Panther Creek
coal fields to the number Of 10000 left
their working places tonight.
SCRANTON, Pa, March 31.-Near
Ily $4,000 mine workers left their posts
today.
DENVER, Colo, March S1.-More
than 1000 miners Of Colorado obeyed
the order to suspend work at mid
might.
/ FAIRMONT. w. Va, March 31.--
lSuspension of operations in the bitum-
iinous mines in northern West Virginia
was said to be complete when the men
iquit work today.
PTTTsBURG, Pa, March 31.--Sus-
lpension Of operations in the union
4 mines Ol IIlS WOSIGEA 1OAAAAoJ 4F ANA
coal district was complete tonight.
| COLUMBUS. Ohio. March S1.-Coa1
production in Ohio stopped tonight
with the expiration of wage contracts
Iof 10000 to $4,000 miners.
/ INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March 31.-
/ Coal production was stopped tonight
by the union miners, who quit their
days work in the mines of 90 states
with the eay0wed 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
i include. a. half million workers, but
also at least 100000 non-union men
would join in the walkout.
No last minute instructions were is
sued from headquarters and the only
significant conference held during the
day by President John l.. Lewis was
with Lonnie Jackson, president of the
Kentucky union district, where 5000
union men will continue at work be-
cause their contracts with operators
| has another year to run.
| Operators Forced Strike"
| During the day, Mr.. Lewis declared
| the suspension OF work by Kansas
union miners would not be averted by
the action of the Kanasa Industrial
court ordering that wage scales of the
last two years be continued for 80
days. In formal statement, the union
chief declared the nationwide walk
out would affect hundreds Of thou
sands 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 addition to the Kentucky miners,
union men in Nova Scotia. will remain
at work but those In the western Ca
madam provinces were expected to
join the suspension. The conference
over the Kentucky situation was said
by its participants to have been gen.
eral review OF the situation there,
with President Lewis taking the posi-
tion that the union must obey its con-
tract with the operators
$4,000 Mine Guards.
Numerous reports from the coal
fields of the country also reached head
quarters, which Mr.. Lewis declared in
dicated a complete tie-up Of all union
fields. These reports also showed that
13, 900 union men would be left in the
mines to protect the property from
damage the the only trouble between
operators and miners in this connec-
tion was reported from Washington,
where operators were said to be OBJ
jecting to paying the wages provided
for in the contracts that expired at
midnight.
Mr.. Lewis formal statement regard
ing the suspension OF work follows:
Lewis Statement.
1.-THE strike upon which the United
Mine Workers OF America are entering
is not question Of small magnitude
nor one to be lightly considered by
the American people. It is fraught
with far-reaching consequences and
serious responsibilities as affecting
public weaa The withdrawal OF in ex-
cess of 100000 men from the mines of
the country constitutes serious prob
lem Aside from the inevitable coal
shortage, which viii ensue to the profit
of coal operators and to the detriment
Of the public. it will cause a disloca-
ton OF industry throughout the ma
ton, affecting hundreds of thousands
Of citizens in other walks of life.
DepIorable Condition.
This is a deplorable condition and
constitutes sad commentary upon
the relationships of employer and en-
ploye in American industry Every
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