The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-19
MINERS BELIEVE
 GOAL STRIKE WILL
 LAST SIX MONTHS
Union Members Would h. dorSe Strike if Vote Were Taken Tomorrow,
 CoIfax Says
By HARDEN COLLAR Special Correspondent of The AEe-Herald Copyright. 1922. by The AGc-Heraldl

lOrreSpOH0enE
 Copyright. 1899. by The Aro-HeraidS
 Indianapolis, February 1s.-The coal strike, if it comes, will last from four to six months, in the opinion of the rank and file of the United Mine Workers of America, in session here this week.
 The miners expect to win. They expect to tie up effectuaIly every union mine in the United States till wage adjustment Is affected
 Operators, on the other hand. be- heve that the backbone of the strike will be broken in less than month. Some of the leaders in the central cofpetitive field, comprising the states of Ohio, Indiana. Illinois and the western part of Pennsyl- Tania, profess to believe that their operations will be eied up only lew days In the Pittsburg district the opinion is confidently held that Ina mines will be running at normal within from two weeks to month.
 Such are the views reflected here through agencies which the miners regard as accurate. The miners say there IS no foundation for such op- timism Certainly there seem to be few, if any, in the convention here who would nto walk out and stay ut till the fight is won. The chief thing that they fear is a crumbling of the edges of the central competi- tive field, with here mine and there a mine going back under open-shop agreements, and the coal thus mined, supplemented by the big production of West Virginia and other non union fields, would approach the amount Erequired by consumers.
 Benent NOnunion Men
 In such event the threatened strike would benefit chiefly the nom union miners in surrounding terri tory. The miners would work full time or overtime to supply the de- mand. Already they are averaging, perhaps. half as much more working time as the union miners.
 Cooperation of the railroad unions is not counted upon, except for moral support. Few miners here believe that the railroad employees will walk e''.- either in while or to any appre- eiabIe degree. in sympathy. They an- ticipate a lone fight and long one.
 Recommendation of the scale com mittee, which were sidetracked by the wrangle over the Howat appeal and the subsequent parliamentary delay, have furnished basis of hope that the strike may yet be avoided, but the hope is faint. Thus far there are no indications that the operators will deviate from their attitude and meet the miners in joint conference A joint conference is what the min CTS are most eagerly desirous of at this time.
 Wish Joint Conference
 If we can sit down with the op- orators in joint conference before April l." one of the leading officials of the organization told this corre- spondent, T firmly believe we can avert strike. A way could be pi obably found out. However, the operators have refused to meet us in joint conference. notwithstanding that the present contract specifically, provides that such a meeting shall be held prior to April 1 for the pur- pose of framing a E.w contract"
 The attitude of the government has been of some concern to the miners. The labor department has representatives on the ground here. reporting to Washington the details of the convention and the senti- ment of the workers. It is expected, as matter of routine, that the labor department probably will nave move to mediate in the crisis. The miners say-thta the operators have about decided not to accept media ton, but are expecting a finish
 
 fight.
 According tc reports current here the operators are reported to have made known this attitude to Secre- tary Hoover at Washington recently. MT. Hoover Is reported here to be ot the opinion that a finish fight IS necessary to settle the question once and for all.
 Wish . Fight
 There is no doubt as to the earn estness of the miners intention to nut up a fight if need be. Many or them admit privately that read i,.stment in wages must be made ere lcng, but they supplement this ad- mission with the statement that high wage rates benefit them but lit- tle because of the poor working time. so that in the end the miners ray Is insufficient to buy necessi- ties of life.
 A referendum, such as contem plated by the scale committee's pro- posals, probably would require two weeks to conduct. If it were to be held tomorrow there is little doubt tfat the rank and file of the oOo,ooo union members would vote over whelmingly in favor of a strike. IT not. then their 2,000 representatives here do not reflect accurately the views and feelings of the men pack Come.