The Washington herald., 1922-05-01
mine SITUATION
MAY Be PROLONGED
SEVERAL WEEKS
Operators Are Disposed
To Let Dispute Wear
Itself Out.

PITTSBURGH, April 30.-The
nonunion strikes in the Connells-
vile coke region, melted by the
United Mine Workers. will last
longer than was at FIRST estimated.
1t is unlikely there will be any
general disposition of the men to
return to work for several weeks.
The operators have adopted the
policy of letting the strikes wear
themselves out.
In the past few weeks few IL
any additional mines have gone on
the idle list, while on the other
hand a few men have returned to
work. This, with better organiza-
tion OF the working forces has
probably produced a slight increase
in the amount Of coke made but
no particular hopes are based on
this showing of the strike As q
whole coming to an end at any
early date.
The strength of the striking is
we'll illustrated by the fact that
Leisenling Nos. 1 and Of the
closed. only No. being in oper-
alton. There have been reports
that the Leisenring plants. consid-
cred more or less pivotal" were
working. but these reports are ab-
solutely incorrect except as to No.
2.
Operators watehfully waiting.
A fortnight ago reports were in
circulation that strenuous measures
would be taken by operators to
bring the strike to a quick con-
clusion. 1t was said that many
men would be imported from other
States, that men would be evicted
from company houses, etc. There
Is no definite reason for suppos-
ing that any such measures were
at any time contemplated, while
the statement is absolute that no
such policy is in mind at the pres
ent time. The policy will be one
of watchful waiting, in expectation
OF the men realizing eventually
and cannot possibly be expected to
be recognized as a labor union by
the operators.
The iron and steel industry Is af-
fected In spots, rather than as Q
whole, by the coal strike. The in
fiuence is only on that part of the
industry that was dependent upon
the Connellsville region for either
coal or coke, particularly the
latter. The general coal strike
was expected, and ample provision
was made against 1t. The ex-
tensive striking in the Connells-
Vile region was not expected.
Coke Shortage Not Serious.
Fifteen years ago such strikes
in the Connellsville region would
have had very much more infiu-
ence in restricting iron and steel
production. The blast furnaces
now depend quite largely upon by
product coke, made at the blast
furnaces. rather than on the bee
hive coke made in the Connells-
willie region. The Clarion by
product plant, the largest in the
world normally uses Connellsville
coke, and was moderately well
stocked with coal April 1.
In the first two or three weeks
OF April the Carnegie Steel Com
pany was very active buyer of
coal, not only of Western Pennsyl-
vania production, but of West yir-
ginia and Kentucky coal, there be-
ing no difficulty in getting the
latter. The Kentucky coal is very
good for coking and simply in
wolves an extra freight expense.
The result of this activity Is that
the Clarion plant Is now we'll
fortified in coal.
Steel production in Western
Pennsylvania and Ohio has been
restricted somewhat by the non.
union coal strikes. but chiefly by
its being made impossible to start
additional blast furnaces and mills.
As there was a heavy increase in
production January l to April 1
the region is set back only a little,
II at all. in point of time. At
Chicago and elsewhere mill and
furnace operations are not affected
by the strike, and production in the
industry as a whole Is probably
somewhat heavier than on April
l. Incidentally the coal strike has
had a strong sentimental influence
in encouraging steel buyers to
a L. 81 l.