The New York herald., 1922-05-08
Both Sides Say Pennsylvania
Has Become Battlefield in
Industrial Conflict.
FUEL FAMINE PREDICTED
Miners Foresee Settlement
Reshipment of Coal Through
Panama Canal Arranged.

TiriSbchSH, May t.--AuolHeT month
will bring forth the answer In the coal
strike. both sides agreed here to-day
Pennsylvania. the two sides also agreed
has become the main battle field in the
huge industrial conflict.
For the operators in the union fields
of western Pennsylvania region
credited In governmental publicity at the
time with being the chief cause of the
deadlock precipitating the strike in the
bituminous fields Of the country--Com-
missioner r. w. Gardiner of the Pitts
burgh Coal Producers Association indi-
Gated another month will disclose that
the mine workers canno, force a soft
coal famine upon the country, and union
mine workers will begin to return to
work, as, he expects. non-union mine
workers will have done long before an
other month.
In mine workers circles the prediction
Is made that another month will have
brought the country SO close to
bituminous coal famine that settle
ment Of the strike. on terms satisfactory
to the mine workers, will be forced.
Would Hurry Famine.
All strategy of the mine workers from
the beginning OF the strike April mas
been directed toward hurrying the COM
ing of a coal famine.
In western and central Pennsylvania
combined there are between $4,000 and
10000 union mine workers on strike,
and In each field regarded by union off,
cials as velvet great fnroads have
been made into non-union fields, which
were counted upon when the strike broke
to prevent the teup In the union fields
from forcing a coal famine upon the
country.
In central Pennsylvania, the great
Somerset-Cambria non-union fields. m
cluding the Berwind-Whitc Coal Com
pany, one of the biggest single btu
mlnous coal mining companies in the
country, have been organized.
In western Pennsylvania the nom
union Connellsville coke region. domi-
mated by the Fl. c. Frick Coke Company,
and the entire Fayettc-Westmoreland
non-union field. has been invaded by the
union organizing campaigns and, 1t is
claimed, are so per cent. organized.
About $4,000 non-union mine workers
have been added to the strike army, it
Is claimed, since the strike started In
central and western Pennsylvania.
Union OmciaIs Confident.
Union officials appear confident that
the non union strikers will stick" and
laugh at predictions from operators
sources that the union men likely are
to so back to work. pointing out that
some Of the union men voting for the
strike April / had not been employed
for twelve TO fourteen months before
the strike started.
Entirely satisfactory" was the way
e-President Pagan characterized the
strike situation throughout the union
territory and IN the newly organized
non union fields In Fayette and West
inoreIand counties.
From semi-official sources II is learned
that there is strong likelihood that the
big mines along the Monongahela River.
owned by the II. c. Frick Coke Com
pany, and closed since the strike began.
will not reopen. The United States
Steel Corporation. II Is generally known
is not depending upon coal from this
district, and Is getting large part OF
It's fuel supply from the West Virginia
and Kentucky fields. reported TO be
owned Jointly by the steel corporation
and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
ARRANGEMENTS have been made at New
Orleans by the new river transporta-
ton company. which Is to be known as
the Lent Traffic Line. for reshipment
of goods on gulf barges for points in
Texas and also on oceangoing vessels
for delivery through the Panama Canal
to South American and Pacific cities and
TO points In Europe. Negotiations
already have been started for the ac-
uuisition OF other fleets that will afford
frequency of shipments of Pittsburgh
products by river to all points.