Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-08-10
Workers Instructed to Quit
Work If Lives Are
Endangered
SITUATION SERIOUS
Peace Conference Between
Rail Officials and En-
ployes Scheduled At
Cleveland To-Day
nv United Presn.l

"a freeze-out" policy towards the
bituminous coal operators who have
declined to take part in the wage
negotiations here was apparent to-
day in the attitude of John L. Lewis
and other union leaders and coal
oerators.
Lewis declared if an agreement is
reached today, at would be up to
every operator in the country to
take it or leave it."
"But if they leave it, their mines
will remain idle" Lewis said.
Ohio operators declared that they
had exerted every effort "to per-
suade the central field rebels to
come here, and since they have re-
fused, there is nothing to do but
go ahead with the negotiations"
Cleveland, Aug. 10.-Members of
the big railroad brotherhoods on the
! Illinois Central Railroad today We're
on the verge of a strike similar to
the walkout on the Elgin, Joliet and
Eastern Railroad.
The Illinois Central is one of the
largest lines in the United States.
Word was received in Cleveland by
brotherhood chiefs today that their
Illinois Central members had been
served with an ultimatum by strik-
ing miners.
In effect the ultimatum was: "Stop
carrying non-union coal or take the
consequences"
Rrotharhood workers were yester-
day instructed to quit work on any
occasion when their lives were i'm
| perilled.
Chicago, August 10.-Northern In
diana and Illinois industrial certers
faced a serious situation today as
steps were taken to end the tie up Of
the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Rail
road.
Traffic on the road was halted
when Big Four" brotherhood mem
bers and other railroad employees
walked out after troops took charge
of the shops at Joliet.
A peace conference between rail-
road officials and the employees was
scheduled for today 1t was hoped
that some agreement could be reach
ed which would permit the men to
return to work.
Indications were that troops would
not be removed from the scene Of
Mondays riot in which two were
killed and score injured. Brother
hood men are firm in their assertions
that they will not go back to work
until the troops are removed.
National guardsmen were also
placed on guard at the Chicago and
Alton shops at Joliet last night. Fall
ure of today's peace conference may
result in brotherhood men on this
road Joining the "strike."
Cleveland, Ohio. Aug. 10.-Peace
parley between leaders Of the strik-
ing United Mine Workers of Ameri-
ca and minority coal operators Of the
Central Competitive District is to be
opened here late today.
President John L. Lewis of the min
ers will no longer wait for operators
of Illinois, Indiana and Western
Pennsylvania to come into the con-
! ference.
Decision to go forward with the
conference, however, was viewed as
indicative that the insurgents" now
holding out would either join in the
conference later or abide by its deci-
sions for Lewis was determined the
settlement should be final and ma
tional.
Powerful organizations of coal op-
orators in four districts threaten to
become disrupted over the wage nego-
tiations here.
They are the organizations Of In
diana. Illinois, Western Pennsylvania
and the southwest coal operators an
sociation.
1t became apparent today that
neither miners nor operators at the
conference know how much tonnage
is represented. Estimates vary be-
tween 50,000,000 and 100,00O,OOO tons,
however.
Refusal of the Illinois operators to
attend was a setback Announcement
had been made that the Danville, Il
lionis District, with tonnage Of
about 100000 would have represen-
tatives here.
The policy committee of the United
Mine Workers met at 10 d. M, to-
day to discuss the situation in West
err Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Cleveland, Aug. 1O.-President
John L. Lewis of the United Mine
Workers is determined that the peace
conference of Cleveland shall not
meet the fate of certain European
conclaves which reached hasty deci-
sions without sufficient representa-
ment of the soft coal walkout once
ton to make them effective. Senti-
more awaited action by Indiana and
Illinois operators. If these groups
reiterate their determination not to
come in, miner leaders may attemDt
agreement with the proportionately
small representation of owners now
here. But Lewis has again proposed
the conference, bent on giving So
called "insurgent" operators, Chose