The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-04-01
INTERNATIONAL NEWS sERyIcrl

INDIANAPOLIS, April i. All
Fools Day dawned silently over
Americas vast coal felds. for today
coliieries in Some 5000 communities
were stilled by the strike OF more
than half a million miners.
No work" whistles pierced the
early morning air OF the dingy min
ing camps; Gathering tippies were
muted, miners trains remained on
their sidings, and usually dusty DON
key engines were idle, picks and
shovels were stacked.
The restless stirring OF msne
mules. brought from their subter-
ranean haunts to the surface 10
await the end Of the Suspension ~
Industry" as they blinker. bewild
cred. in the unaccustomed light
and the movements OF skeleton
crews left behind by the miners 20
protect the raines from flooding
these were the only notes that orok =
the quietude Of many a mining camp.
NO APRIL FOOLS ERaAND
All Fools Day dawned silently
because the miners elected that it
should be so, but in halting all min-
ing activities. their leaders made il
emphatically clear today, the miners
are on no April fooifs errard.
In the gigantic walk out. launch
ed at one minute past Il this morn
ing-a walk-out which promises 10
usher in the most titantic labor
struggle In history-tne miners have
begun what their leaders say is
battle to the finish to compel he
coal operators to obsy a pledge 70
meet them around the conference
board for the adjustment Of wages:
they are fighting against the an
nounced intention OF the mine own
ers to slash the workers pay; fight
ing to retain the ''check-off" sys-
tenn. the keystone in the arch OF
the miners unionisfn.
OPERATORS DETERMINED
Drawn up in battle array, on the
other hand. Is the silent host OF op-
orators, just as deter mined as the
miners, and bent upon retrenchmenr
in their costs. including wages.
which they have said would reduce
the price OF coal to the public.
siege tactics are figuring In the
initial stages Of the silent strag
gle.
The half million and more miners
are bulwarked against what their
leaders declare IS deliberate on
siaught- of "bis business huge
financial interests. bent on slashlng
wages and crushing unionisn1. They
are crouched to ward of what they
hold to be the menace OF the open
shop"
What do the miners want? Ellis
Searles. OF the mine workers jour
nal, answers the question thus:
WANT LIVING STANDARD
They want steady empl oyment.
under proper working conditions.
and at recent rate OF wages so they
may earn enough TO maintain their
families on a real American stand
ard of living"
And. in the words OF John r..
Lewis. president of the United Mine
workers. the unoin does NOT intend
to measure the American standard
of living With a union yard
stick
In their resenting the slaahins -
wages the miners nave the upfsl
OF hundreds Of thousands
OF men VINO comprise the sixteen
major railroad unions or the Unitee
States How valuable this mora
supportf-assured uI'dsr the de
fensive alliance" pact Of the rail-
readers, mine workers and long
shoremen- prove 70 be- is not
vet apparent. The railroad labor
organizations have pledged no SYM
pathetic strike; but, II the view Il
the miners. they might" refuse 10
haul non union coal to market. or
they might just forget to move a.
COUNT on NOS-UNI0S MINERS
The miners are counting on
great many of the nations 600
90 non-union miners to join them,
but union leaders sa- that liaison
with many Of the organized work
ers is prevented by the hired gun
men" who, they assert. guard many
non-union camps against union In
vasion-