The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-01
Kentucky Is Only Field Where
Coal Is Produced Now.
At Least 100000 Men Are Be-
IieVed To Be Out.
CANADA MINERS JOIN ALSO
Almost Complete Shutdown OF
Mines There Reported.
Union Men Call Day "Greatest
i'm Mine History"

Washington. April 1.-Government
ownership of all coal mines in the
United states was advocated here to
day BY Senator Borah, in a long state
ment.
Declaring that he did not under
estimate the task assumed in event of
government ownership, Senator Borah
said he doubted very much if the
public will much longer submit to
the present method Of operating the
coal mfneA" The strike which began
today was described by the senator
as the symptom of the disease which
is The chaotic and the shamelessiy
wasteful method in which the industry
is now being carried on"
The coal miner is in a sense an
expert workman. He cannot very well
mine coal one month and work in the
wheat fields the next
Il find in the Pittsburg district the
average days work by the miners FOR
1921 was 123. and that his annual
average earnings were 1852 This sit
uation is due to the method under
which the industry is carried on. The
public finally pays for all these things.
The reckoning in regard to this coal
industry is not alone between the
operators and the miners but between
the coal industry and the public"
tBv the Associated PressJ
For the first time in the history OF
the coal industry both bituminous and
anthracite coal fields virtually We're
idle today. as the result OF the cessa-
ton of work by 100000 miners, ef-
fectfve at midnight last night
Union officials asserted that 100000
non-unfon miners were included in the
yvaIkout and that 5000 of the 1000
mines in the country were shut down
Huge Production Loss
Daily loss of production in anthra-
cite fields We're estimated at 303,OOO
tons, and the daily loss in wages at
present rates in that branch of the
industry at 100000 affecting 10000
Families. First day of the nation wide
suspension fell on the anniversary OF
the adoption of the eight hour day.
April I. 1898 As the day has been
generally observed as holiday in nor
NAL times. estimates of the complete
ness Of the suspension were not re-
Tbe administration in Washington
continued to observe a hands OF pol
lev on the ground that with coal stocks
piled up sufficiently for six or seven
weeks. no emergency existed.
Phillip Murray. vice president OF the
U NJ. W. A. proposed congressional /
acton to prohibit over development of
the coal industry as a cure for the {
great evil which has America in the /
grip of nationwide strike today"
Action to prevent protracted /
strike OF nearly 4-sNNN lAAAlHAS AA4 NNSA- ]
ern Canada was started in Calgary by I
the government Cancellation board.
Miners officials in Kansas. where \
the industrial court ordered that the !
present ARRANGEMENT between miners
and operators continue for another .
month. asserted the walkout in that 4
state would be shown on Monday to 4
be complete
The northwest reported supplies
sufficient for about two months with
more than $4,000, 900 tons piled up by 4
the railroads and at the Duluth docks
at the head Of the lakes. President
Lewis OF the L. NJ. W A. planned to
leave Indianapolis tonight for Wash
ingtOn to lay the miners case before
the house labor committee in detail on
Monday.
Operators in the Morgantown dis
trict Of West Virginia announced to-
day they would reopen on Monday on
an open shop basis II
Benton. Ill. April 1.-WhiIe spas
modic shooting occurred in various
sections OF southern Illinois where the
miners strike is reported as 100 per
cent complete. only two casualties
were reported Jesse Henson. night
chief OF police OF DuQuoin. was shot
and wounded seriously and Policeman
Walter Sconce was wounded slightly +
by Harry Reid. a miner. early today. ,
With more than fifty thousand c
miners idle in Southern Illinois. much I
shooting was reported. but with the q
exception of the DuQuoin affair the =
ihooting was said to be in celebration | Q