The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-04-01
UNION MINERS WALK OUT
in TWENTY STATES TODAY

Washington, April 1.-The admins
tration viewed the beginning of the
coal strike today with a protection
OF the general public as the upper
most concern and they believed this
was assured by the present coal sur
plus and production at nonunion
mines.
New York, April 1.-Congressional
action to prohibit overdevelopment of
the coal industry was proposed by
Thillp Murray, vice president of the
United Mine Workers as q cure for
the great evil" which has America
m the grip of nationwide strike"
He said men were required to live q
year on earning from 40 to 100 days'
work because Of overproduction.
Indianapolis, March 31.-Coal pro-
ductlon was stopped tonight by the
UNION miners, who quit their DAVIS
work in the mines of 20 states with
the avowed policy of remaining idle
indefinitely in an effort to force the
operators to accept the miners terms
tor new wage contracts.
Officials at the Headquarters here
Of the United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca declared the suspension would not
only include half millions workers
but also at least 100000 non-union
men would join in the walk out. No
last minute instructions were issued
from headquarters and the only sig
nificant conference held during the
day by President John L. Lewis was
with Lonnie jackson, president of the
Kentucky union district, where 5000
union men will continue at work be-
cause their contract with operators
mas another year to run.
During the day Mr.. Lewis declared
the suspension of work by Kansas
unsOn miners would not be averted by
the action Of the Kansas industrial
court ordering that wage scales of the
last two years be continued for 80
days. In formal statement tonight
the union chief declared the nation
wide walkout would affect "hundreds
of thousands of citizens" not directly
engaged in the coal industry, and he
reiterated his charge that the opera
tors had forced 1.-The strike upon the
miners"
In addition TO the Kentucky miners,
union men in Nova Scotia will remain
at work but those in the Western Ca
madam provinces were expected to
join the suspension. The conference
over the Kentucky situation was said
by it's participants to have been a
general review Of the situation there
with President Lewis taking the posi-
ton that the union must obey it's con-
tract with the operators.
! Numerous reports from the coal
fields of the country also reached
headquarters, which Mr.. Lewis de-
clared Indicated a complete tie up of
all union fields. These reports also
showed that 1900 union men would
be left in the mines to protect the
property from damage and the only
trouble between operators and miners
IN this connection was reported from
Washington where operators were
wages provided for in the contracts
that expired at midnight.
Mr.. Lewis formal statement re-
garding the suspension of work fol-
.oWS:
"The strike upon which the United
Mine Workers of America are enter
ing is not a question Of small magni-
tude nor one to be lightly considered
by the American people. 1t is fraught
with far reaching consequences and
serious responsibilities as affecting
the public veal. The withdrawal of
in excess CT 100000 men from the
mines of the country constitutes
serious problem. Aside from the in
evitable coal shortage which will en-
sure, to the profit of coal operators
and to the detriment of the public, it
will cause a dislocation of industry
throughout the nation, affecting hun
dreds of thousands of citizens in other
walks of life.
"This is a deplorable condition and
constitutes sad commentary upon
tie relationships of employer and en-
ployee in American industry. Every
thoughtful man recognizes that in the
end a settlement of the problems of
the mining industry must perforce be
effected. Such settlement must come
through joint conference with accred-
tied representatives of the mine work
ers Of the nation.
ut is most unfortunate, because Of
the arbitrary attitude of the coal op-
orators, that such a meeting can not
= assembled until the country has en-
dur2d the agony and convulsions in
rolved IN an industrial strike on such
gigantic scale. In the present issue
of false security by the soothing state
ments Of those who will profit through
strike.
"The mine workers repeatedly have
called attention to those facts and our
statements have gone unheeded. The
responsib lity must therefore be with
these who have brought about the
present situation seeking to push the
miners backward.
GAS self-respecting citizens we are
resolved to stand in opposition to
those who deny us living wage and
our proper aspirations for an Ameri-
can standard of living"
.