The New York herald., 1922-04-07
STRIKERS SEE COAL
| FAMINE in SIX WEEKS
Philip Murray Says Nom
Union Diggers Are Fast
Joining Walkout.
BIG PENNA. MINES HALT
Base of Supply FOR U. S.
Steel Corporation Said
to Be Affected.
RAILROADS FEEL PINCH
Fight to Finish, Asserts Lewis,
Decrying Operators
Ruthlessness.
BIG PENNA. MINES HALT
RAILROADS FEEL PINCH

| Philip Murray, vice-president OF the
United Mine Workers, declared yes
terday that within six weeks the coun-
try would be facing an actual coal
famine. This calculation is based upon
the figures. of actual supply and con-
sumption and the estimated detection
| of workers in the non-union fields,
which the labor leaders report is rap
idly increasing.
Scventy-fye mines in the Connells-
vile and Uniontown, Pa. coke fields
We're closed down yesterday, according
to reports reaching the union leaders,
as well as eight mines in Westmore-
land county, Pennsylvania. This new
break from the non-union fields added
about $4,000 to $4,000 miners to those
already out, and gave the union men
increased optimism.
John L. Lewis, leader of the strike,
estimated that from 10000 to $4,000
non- union miners had joined issue
with the union workers. with more ex-
pected "out" every day.
Sees Blow to Operators.
Every mine property in the coke
fields Of Connellsville and Uniontown
has been closed down." said Mr.. Muir
ray. These fields as well as those In
westmoreland county have been hitherto
considered imrregnable, and In Fayette
county there has been no organization
| in twenty-five years. I am convinced
that within short time all the nom
union miners in the West Virginia, Ten
nessee and eastern Kentucky fields will
be out"
! The mine workers have virtually COM
pIeted the presentation Of their case to
the Joint Wage Scale Conference being
held daily in the Union League Club.
! and after several minor exhibits are
placed on the record to-day It Is ex-
pected that the conference will be ad-
journed until Monday, when the opera
tors viii set forth their side.
Great Significance was placed by the
union leaders on the reports from Con-
nelsvilIe, as that district supplies to a
large extent the needs OF the United
states Steel Corporation and it's sub
sidiaries In and around Pittsburgh, The
men declare that the Steel Corporation
has only seventy-two hours supply OF
fuel on hand. and they look for an early
lay off OF steel workers In the Pitts
burgh district.
Railroads also have begun to be
fected. they contend. reports havns
reached the strike officials hero that
the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
i road has already laid off 1000 mer
owing to the reduced traffic in coal
Vice President Murray predicted that
\ within a week $4,000 railroad workers
throughout the country would be tenn
porarily deprived OF their Jobs. At the
Hobolen office OF the Lackawanna yes
terday IL was stated that $50 men had
been laid off on the Port Morris ano
Essex Division. and further cuts were
expected.
Figuring the available supply at co.
oo0. 900 tons and the consumption ap-
proximateiy 100000 tons week
the strike officials estimate that with
the exclusion of the ncn-union produc'
tion ,here Is left little more than Q
month and half supply.
More than fifty per cent. of the non
union coal supply 10 already cut OFT,
said Mr.. Murray. 'and It is gradually
being reduced because more men are
going out day by day. All the bis
Eastern non-union fields will be dowr
within the next few days" The only
important fields that the strike leaders
concede to the operators are those Of
Alabama and Colorado. the latter dom
mated by the Colorado Fuel & Iron Co
The questions taken up at the con-
ference yesterday were: Eight hour da.
for underground workers and "punitiv,
overtime" to all miners working in ex
cess Of eight hours. Reports of thu
Sankey Committee, which investigated
mining conditions in Great Britain, wer,
submitted and attention was called t
the establishment of the seven houl
day in the British Isles and the recon-
mendation of Premier Lloyd Georg'
that a six hour day be instituted i
economic conditions permitted.
The strike leaders contend that thu
seven hour day had not increased thu
cost OF production In England. and hat
lessoned the casualties.
Rail Men Promise Help.
i Assurances Of moral and financia
support had been received from thu
Railroad Brotherhoods. Mr.. Lewis said
but he added that no call for financia
assistance had yet been issued. OWNS
to the refusal OF the operators in thu
bituminous fields of Indiana and Obi,
70 attend the conference ~before tn,
House Labor Committee In Washing
ton. on April 10 Mr.. Lewis hold ou
little hope that the negotiations woult
4 take place. He added II meant a
fight to the finish"
THE operators are apparently de-
termined to go through with their ruth
less program he said, and will tr,
TO crush the unions by brute force ant
drive the miners backward until the,
arc absolutely In the power OF the op
orators"
HA had not heard reports or an,
recent outbreaks of mine fires, bu
william j. Brennan. president of Dis
trict No at Scranton said he wouls
seek permission from the sub-committe,
to detail an adequate crew to subdu.
the latest blaze discovered in the lie,
CollierIes at Wilkes-B Barre.
In It's weekly review Cool Age will
say to-day that supplies are plentiful
and industrial users refuse to b,
budged from their deliberate attitude
reassured by the comfortable supple.
on hand and the heavy non-unon ton
mage offering" New England Is wei