Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-04-07
COAL MINERS ALL
GO OUT on STRIKE
PsEsiDENT LEWIS DECLARES
UNION is DETERMINED TO
MAINTAIN DEMANDS
Coal supply VIII Last But Few Weeks
In Opinion Of Strike Leaders;
Utilities VIII be the First
to Suffer

Washington. The national coal
strike is 100 per cent effective In the
unionized bituminous and anthracite
mines of the country and is getting
support in nonu-ion territory. John l..
Lewis, president Of the United Mine
Workers. declared Sunday on his ar
rival here to attend congressional
hearings.
There are 100000 miners ready TO
stay out of the mines indefinitely.
until the operators are ready to dis
cuss with US the question OF new
wage agreements In the central COM
petitive fields" Mr.. Lewis declared,
adding that. while the union court
ed investigation for anthracite and the
bitumlnous industry. 1t seeks NO gov
eminent Intervention. but does ask
for the support Of public opinion in
forcing the operators to continue col
lecive bargaining with miners over
wages and working conditions"
Discussing coal reserves and the Of
feet OF the strike on the interests Of
consumers, Mr.. Lewis strongly ex-
pressed his opinion thnt "a pinch
would come earlier than expected.
He declared nonunion mine produc-
ton had been greatly exaggerated,
and that operators had been more or
less openly following tactics that
forced strike 30 thJ could get
higher prices and greater profits.
There won't be single man re
turn to work this week." Mr.. Lewis
said, "from the 100000 men who Went
out. 1t takes little longer In the
nonunion fields for us to get the re
ports. In the West Virginia panhan
die. for instance, right along the Ohic
line, there are about 5000 or 5000 mel
In nonunion mines for whom meetings
are being held. They'll probably bt
out soon. There are meetings here ant
there in nonunion territory all ovol
the United States. Wen get thu
returns later. In the union territor,
we know what happened, the opera
tors aren't even going to try to ruI
| the mines"
Taking notice Of the suggestion b,
Chairman Borah OF the senate labo
committee that the government ough
to intervene further into the situu
tion. Mr.. Lewis remarked that he Wa
afraid nothing much could be don
with the operators"
livery attempt has been made t
| ,,at than, IN v,aat thair nhIiUaftana 4
continue collective bargaining witt
us," he continued, land assume the
will maintain their refusal no matte
who tries to get them to confer. w
stand ready, now as ever, TO enter an
conference with them to discuss tn
terms of n new wage contract whtc
will allow us to resume work.
If the miners today were occupy
ing the position OF refusing to dill
cuss a wage contract, as the opers
tors are. they'd be morally castigate
oy all the citizens of this land"
although the operators regard edc
other as competitors" Mr.. Lewis SAID
Ind are not acting In concert. Nv
know that we can't get genera
wage scale without unity of action 4
che central competitive field. becaus
difference Of cent day in wage
means cents per ton In the sellin
price of coal, makes turmoil in ma
kets and closes up old mines to ope
new ones"
"Still they were unit In wantin
suspension" he continued. They ha
loaded up all the big consumers wit
coal on the strike scare, and held u
the market prices while the loadin
was going on. Now they think tina
IL trey're shut down long enoug
there'll be a scarcity, and IA runawu
market. Their disposition made tn
strike inevitable"
M. Lewis estimates the maximum
production Of the nOnunion mines a
100000 tons a week. much Of while
he said, was good only for coke. Furt'
.r, ne declared. the middle west coul
not pay the freight to get nonunio
soal to them.
Watch the public utility companie
the smaller cities" the strike lea
or said. "They will be hit first. TIL
zig cities are pretty we'll stocked, bl
the little ones are not"
Mr.. Lewis expected to remain
Washington as long AS his presenc
is required, but said he had no engag
ments with President Harding to e,
scutiye Officers.