San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-11
United Mine Workers OF
America Said to Be Plan
ming Unionizing Drive.
RESUMING OLD FIGHT
West Virginia Fields Long a
Thorn in Side Of Union
Leaders.
Ry HARDEN COI,FAN.

Copyright. 1928. By The San Antonio Light.
Washington, ID. C., Feb. 10.-The
first big industrial clash of 1928 is
expected to materialize within the next
so days in the non-union coal fields Of
West Virginia where the United Mine
Workers of America apparently are
contemplating another gigantic drive to
bring the $4,000 workers there into
the union ranks.
The latest attempt to unionize West
| Virginia coal fields which have stood
out for more than % years, is said by
operators to be under the personal di-
rcction of Percy Tetlow, formerly sta
| tistician of the mine workers organi-
cation, who is at Charleston at the
present time. Tctlow, during the war,
commanded machine company dubbed
tho suicide squad" because of the
numerous fatalities within its ranks.
The mine workers regard him as man
| of unusual resourcefulncss and courage
and predict that this time, under his
| leadership, West Nirginia's nOn-union
coal fields will yield TO organization.
Mingo, Logan, Mcdowell, Mercer and
New River are fellows detectives.
These fields produce the bulk of West
| Virginias non-union coal. During n
single year the mine workers spent
more than S2,OO0,0O0 in n vain attempt
to unionizc them. Hundreds of men
| have been killed in the various efforts
| to convert them TO unioniSm.
No Union Field Strikes.
In the union coal fields operators
are signing labor contracts based on
the agreement reached at New York be-
tween Ohio, In<iana and Illinois opera
tors and the union. Within the week
agreements have been signed TO cover
the fields in Arkansas, Missouri, Kan
sas. Oklahoma. Central Pennsylvania
and Iowa. All other fields undoubt-
cdly will sign agreements. so that a
strike this year in any of the union
fields is remote.
Every member Of the United Mine
Workers of America has been assessed
81 n month for two months as n special
assessment.
The total thus TO be raised will OK
coed 81 500. 900. The miners assert the
special assessment which is i'll add
ton 10 the regular dues, was levied TO
nav off indebtedness incurred during
the strike last year. The non-umon
operators profess to see in the levy the
raising of huge fund to finance the
effort TO swing West Virginia into the
union.
Union GENERATORS in the bituminous
fields have decided 10 comply with
the demands Of the coal commission for
information and are cndcavOring TO CO.
oppratc with the commission to the full
est possible extent. The operators
have employed as counsel, John W.
Davis. former ambassador TO Greaat
Britain: Henry Stimson, former sec
rotary of war. and others at fees re-
portcd to exceed 100000 in the ag-
Cregatc, to advise them with respect
TO the commissions inquiry. These adj
yisers have recommended that the oper-
atOrs aid the commission in obtaining
the facts about the coal industry.
I'neyentfuI Business Week.
With the exception of developments
in the coal industry, the week IN the
realm of finance, commerce and indus
try has been comparatively uneventtuI'
The railroads reported continuance
of mountaineering traffic, car loadlngS:
Indications are that the coming OF
sprinC will witness a car shortage oil
proportions greater than ever recorded
before at that season of the year.
The Federal Reserve Board MADE
public figures placing the increase in
deposits in the $50 chief national
banks at a trifle less than $1,000
100000 over the figures of year
ago.
Lumber shipments during January,
according to the National Lumber
Dealers Association. exceeded ship
ments in January, 1922, by more thai.
4OO,O0000O board feet or in excess oil
20 per cent The Department OF Agrl-
culture. estimates the farmers pur-
chasing power to have increased near
" 80 per cent within the past year.
The Postoffice Department announces
an increase of more than IS per cent
within a year in postal receipts at the
80 leading industrial cities.
"A wave of prosperity in which there
are no barren spots of any size is
sweeping the country" the depart
ment's statement reads.
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