Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-15
Miners STRIKE
EXPECTED ON
april FIRST
Leaders Said to be Opposed
and TO Fear Walk
out
CAMPAIGN PLANNED
Union Heads viii go Directly to Pub
lie With Their Case, Seeking SYM
pathy.

indianapolis, Feb l5.-Making due
allowance for the TACT that the lead
crs of the United Mine Workers do
not want a strike and fear one, and
making due allowance for the value
Of the conservative position taken
when they gathered Monday, there
is no escaping the fact tonight after
the first day of the miners conven-
tion, that there is very difinate and
concrete foundation for the fears eX--
pressed in weeks past of 4 general
coal strike in April.
If the report submitted yesterday
to the convention by the scale commit
Tee, which. as forecast, recommended a
demand for continuance Of the present
soft coal wages, is adopted-and that
is altogether probable-it is difficult to
sre how strike can be escaped unless
the operators in the Central compiti-
tive field change their policy, at least
to the extent of meeting the miners
Representatives in joint conference.
The leaders plan Of action. embod-
led in the renort Of the scale committee
leads straight to strike unless the
operators agree to meet in Joint con-
ference or unless the mass OF miners
vote to stay at work on the terms OF
the operators. The latter alternative
is not considered at all possible by
the best informed men in this rOnven-
ton. 1t would mean Generalization
of the union, and few believe the men
are ready at this time to stay at thai
price.
With this program framed, leading
to a strike unless the operators make
some concessions, it became clearer
than ever, following the submission
nf the report of the scale committee.
that the leaders of the miners organ
ization are playing with all the skill
they possess for the favor OF pubic
opinion. They realize kcenly their
need for it in the contest just ahead
with the operators over wage scales.
and they realize even more keen!y
the need they will have of it, il the
wage scale contest ends in strike
There is this difference in that phase
of the situation, as it develops to-
day, from the apparent situation yes
terday: Then. it seemed probable that
there would be an appeal to Presi-
dent Harding to make the operators
negotiate and come to terms. Today, 1t
appears plainly that the leaders place
little hope in the President or in
Secretary Hoover, who would advise
him. and are going straight to the
people.
These are the stages in the miners
leaders plans:
Demand for continuance of the
present soft coal wages for a two
year period, beginning April !,
based on the contention that the
miners cannot live on less, and
that the industry can afford the
wages.
2. Demand that the operators
meet the miners in Joint confer
ence to consider the wage scale,
as in the past, and in accord with
what is described as "the agree
ment honorablv made" on March
81, 1920, to hold such confer
cnce.
8. In event of continued refusal
of the operators, to meet the
miners in conference. or of fail
ure in such conference to reach
an agreement. then a strike, but
1. Before the strike may be
called, there must be a referen-
dunn on the question of the mem
bersh;p of the United Mine Work
ers of America, to be held prior
TO March 81. This referendum is
to convince the country that if a
strike IS called. it will be a miners
and not leaders strike.
All of that applies to the soft-coal
fields. In the hardcoal fields the rec
ommendation OF the scale committee
is that the decision reached at the
miners convention in Shamokin II
January-to demand 20 per cent. IN
crease and 81 day increase for day
workers-be supported with the pow
CT of the main organization.