The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-31
OPERATORS may
OPE|:N|l.. [: ! Mines. ||I 4 | /. ON
N.ONUN|ONBAS|S
Statement Issued This Morn.
ing Indicates Effort viii
Be Made to Run

"A new phase OF the coal strike
situation in tho Fairmont region
was brought to light this morning
with the announcement that the
members Of the Northern West vir-
gtnia Coal Operators Association
will deal with their employees as
individuals. This announcement
was regarded by those in close
touch with the situation as an init.
nation that the operators will re.
open their mines on a non.union ba.
sis II possible,
The statement, which was the
only announcement made this
morning regarding the meeting Of
the association being held here to.
day, reads as follows:
It Is the recommendation Of
A. Lisle White, president OF the
Northern West Virginia Coal
Operators Association. that
each individual operator care Z
fully studysthe general level of <
gaGes tit the aus to Che fa=
i tiytdlfal woNk king conditions OF
this mines i;and Of fer such ems
ploymept as he can to hts en-.
ployes, to the end that idleness,
discomfort and suffering OF
men, women and children, may
not be blamed upon the indi.
vidual operator.
From what can be gathered most
OF the coal companies in the Fair
mont region will close their mines
on Saturday and keep them closed
indefinitely. Apparently the ma
jurity Of the operators will not at
tempt to operate them while the
suspension is on or at least at the
beginning of it. In most instances
the companies will let the union
furnish the bumpers and necessary
help to keep the mines from being
flooded by water. No extra pre-
cautions will be made to guard the
property, only the usual night
watch to be on guard.
Moreantown Section
In the Morgantown section and
more especially at the mines own
ed and operated by members OF the
Monongahela Coal Association,
says that the pumpcr will stay
right on the job, but that they
would work at the new scale OF
wages. This, he said. would be
true in at least somes instance
and in others where the bumpers
would not do 50 the bosses or men
who have not been connected with
the union would attend to that
duty. No special effort is being
made TO police the mines, accord.
Ing to Mr.. Watson. but the usual
night watchmen will be on tho job.
For some time there has been de.
tachment of state police stationed
al Morgantown. The plans OF the
Monongahela Association calls for
a reduction Of so per cent without
the check off. This mean that ln-
ion men may work at the mines at
the reduced wage scale, but no
closed shop arrangement will be III
force. The association at various
times has announced that there
are sixty five mines represented in
the Monongahela Coal Association.
1t is understood that a. number OF
the mines, however, would be clos
ed down today, but It has been in
timated that at least some Of the
members will make an effort to
start on a non-unlon basis next
week. The experiment in the Nor.
gantown section will be closely
watched from all coal mining sec.
tions.
Heavy Pay Day
Just before the strike breaks
some Of the coal companies have
paid out some heavy pays. The
Consolidation Coal Co. Thursday
1t is reported paid. out. $3.50, 900 and
probably will pay as high as $780,
900 on Apil 15. The maximum pay
of the Consolidation Coal Co. : IS
said to be $SS0,000; which was paid
some time ago.
No Interference
Operators generally take no
stock at all in the utterances and
statements made in official Wash
ington. 1t is said that they have
had a tip on good, authority thplt
the government will not interfere
in the coal strike, unless It be-
comes a menace to the people In
which event It would interfere. OF
course this cannot be for many
months, because Of the large sup.
ply Of coal in storage. Miners Of
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