New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-10
MinesReopened
Under Guard i'm
Strike District
Armed Deputies ON Hand in
First Serious Attempt to
Break Pennsylvania Strike
Since Shafts We're Closed
Declare Situation Tense
Plans Laid for Opening of
Many Other Pits; Union
Men Not to Go to Work

PITTSBURGH, July (By The AS
sociated Press Goal was being cut
yesterday in two important pits in the
Pittsburgh bituminous district, the
first serious attempt on the part of the
Pittsburgh Coal Producers Association
to break the strike, which for fourteen
weeks has kept idle every union mine
in the REGION. Deputy sheriffs were
on guard and there was no disorder.
Several days will be required before
enough coal will be available to war
rant operation of the hosting ma
chinery. Railroad switches have been
filled with empty cars and shipments
are expected to begin about the middle
of the week.
At the Hendersonville plant OF the
Henderson Coal and Coke Company, in
Washington County, there was no sign
of activity on the surface, but 1t was
stated force was busy under ground.
twenty or more armed deputy sheriffs
were quartered in one of the company's
buildings on the main highway between
Pittsburgh and Canonsburg. There has
been no evictions, and many Of the
company houses are still occupied by
strikers, although it was said numbers
of families have moved away since the
strike started, while many OF the strik-
ers were working in harvest fields.
Montour Mine Operating
A more important move, strikers and
company officials agreed, was at Mon
tour No. 4 mine of the Pittsburgh Coal
Company Hers coal cutting, 1t was
said, was in active progress and prspa-
rations were being made to put on an
increased force. -~a:,
Back from the main street, in q
rather pretentious building, almost
fifty deputy sheriffs wera making
themselves comfortable. Every ar
rangement had been perfected for
what apparently was meant to hs a
long stay.
"Our men are being given an oppor-
tunity to 60 to work" said one Of the
men connected with the company, "and
I don't think we are going to have any
trouble. But, these mines are going
to be operated and our preparations
are with that end in view, If the
men want to work, they and the conn.,
pany's property will be protected by
the county authorities from any out
side interference"
"There is sufficient force Of men
here to protect the property" said the
man in command Of the guard. "They
are picked men, some of them former
members of the state police who know
their duty. I feel sure there will be
no trouble here by reason Of a dis
play of force when force is not neces-
sary, II any man Of this company Is
found provoking disorder or ex-
ceeding his authority, I'll see its the
last thing he does here. He'll have
to get out at once"
Strikers Not to Return
The strikers had nothing to say
other than to reiterate the men had no
intention whatever Of going to work,
and if the company expected TO operate
the mine before an agreement was
made with the union it would have to
bring in the workers.
Arrangements are being made to
place number Of other Washington
County mines in operation, ID was
learned. Among them is the Atlas pit
Of the Carnegie Coal Company, at At
lasburg, not far from the Montour
mine. The names Of the others were
not made public.
Business men in communities near
the mines visited, when questioned aa
to the sentiment of the community, in.
variably replied that "the situation is
tense"