Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-01
HARD COAL T|E-UP
ALMOST COMPLETE
Only Two Mines Stay Open.
$4,000 Out on Strike.
: Non-Union Man Shot.
BY tie Associated Press.


WILKESBARRE, Pa, April L.
Operations in the anthracite coal fields
were at a standstiH today under the
suspension order OF the United Mine
Workers Of America. Reports from all
sections Of the three districts were that
the fifty-eight companies operating 260
colteries and employing approximately
1855, 900 men and boys were idle. 1t was
the first general suspension in the an
thracite fields since 1912, when f. new
wage scale was signed on May 20. and
was ordered by the union pending the
negotiation of wage contrac: to take
the place Of the one which expired yes
terday.
Operators and officials of the union
alike agreed that the tie-up would be
100 per cent effective. Only such men
equipment and the protection Of prop
erty-approximately 3,000-will remain
ut work. it was stated.
Very little coal was mined yesterday.
the men spending the greater part Of
the day In removing their tools to pre-
sible falls Of roofs. Mine mules. many
of which had not seen daylight for
years. also were brought to the surface
and turned loose in inclosed fields. The
only sign of life underground today was
the working Of the pumps to keep out
tilating the gangways.>
Planned for Six Weeks.
The operators. in preparing for the
shutdown. it is understood, planned
for q six-week to two-month period
of idleness. Supplies Of coal stored
at the various collieries to operate the
suficient for that length Of time.
District officials of the miners union.
who had been in conference with the
anthracite operators IN New York in
an effort to negotiate a new wage
tricts today directing the fnAugura-
ton of the suspension. They will re-
turn to New York on Monday to re-
sumo the negotiations.
Orders have been issued by each Of
the three district presidents, William
en-. district Z. and John Kennedy. dis
trict 9. warning the men against vio-
lence of any sort or attempts to dam
age mine property. There will be no
picketing. union officials said. Al
though no disorder is contemplated.
the state police and sheriffs of the
various counties are prepared for any
emergency.
The state troopers have established
substations throughout the hard coal
regions and officials at Harrisburg are
watching the Situation closely.
Only Two to BE Worked.
With two exceptions, the operators
have declared that there would not
be the slightest effort to work the
mines while negotiations for new wage
agreements were on. Notices were
posted at the Jermyn Colliery at Old
officials Of the Beaver Valley Coal
Company In Scotch Valley. near
Bloomsbury. announced last night after
the shooting of one Of its non-union
men that they would attempt to
operate during the suspension. There
has been a strike at the Jermyn Col
liery. an Independent concern. for
several weeks. and the union men at
the Beaver Valley Mine walked out
three days ago after a controversy
over the discharge of blacksmith.
Anthony Vagnin. who was shot near
Bloomsburg. was one Of the few who
remained at work. He said he had no
enemies and was at loss to explain
the attack. Union officials said 1t was
not an outgrowth of the general sus-
inG.
The daily loss in production due to
the tie-up is estimated at 303.000 tons
of hard coal and the daily loss in
wages at present rates at $500. 600, at
fecting twenty thousand families.
Many foreign-borns mine workers
today were planning to leave for
their native lands, some to return
when the suspension Is over, and
others to live at their old homes upon
their savings.
In many sections there were meet
fnss of local unions today. These
were called mainly to again warn the
men against disorder and to enlist the
support of as many as possible in
the movement to keep trouble out of
the suspension.
From the operators came the as
surance that there will not be a
pound of coal mined while the wage
conferences are on. The plan of the
companies Is to reduce their storage
SO that when settlement comes there
will be opportunity for the revival of
the Industry on q full-time basis.