Evening star., 1925-09-01
MINING TOWNS GAY
AS STRIKE BEGINS
158, 900 Drop Tools, Making
Tie-Up CompIete-Peace
Marks Opening.
BY the Associated Press.


PHILADELPHIA, September l.
A peaceable but complete tie-up of
hard coal fields was in effect today as
result of the suspension of work
by $4,000 mine workers.
The last of the miners quit the pits
on the stroke of midnight. which ter
minated the late two-year contract
with the operators Work will not be
resumed until the contract is re-
newed.- Attempts to negotiate renewal
have so far failed.
The first shift of the 10000 mainte-
nance men who will police the mines
throughput the suspension. by agree
ment with the owners. took their as
signed places without any hitch. In re-
turn for their continued employment.
these men are required by the union
to contribute S5 from each semi
monthly pay envelope to the union
emergency fund.
The operators will thus be indirect.
ly contributing about S1o0, 900 a month
to the unions war chest
10000 to Be Laid OF.
All through the night the coal trains
toiled over the montain grades-Ioaded
gondolas outward bound; long strings
of 'empties" rafting back to the
mines for fresh loads. Railroad Off
Gals expect in 40 hours to dispose of
the traffic rush which reached its pea k
just before the week end. Their sue.
cess, however, will also spell the lay.
ing off of some 10000 railroad men.
shop employees and train crews on coal
runs.
over the 500 square miles in north.
eastern Pennsylvania which hug deep
the Nations store of anthracite not
colliery whistle is heard or a mine
car seen climb a breaker
The coal mining towns show holi.
day activity. amusement centers
throughout the region are preparing
for heavy outpouring of miners and
their families. The Miners days
have been advertised here and there
Many of the men plan to spend the
time at home putting on porches
patching roofs, attending to improve.
ments long put off for lack of time
The hammer and paint brush for the
time being are to replace the pick
and shovel. The closing day of the
old contract was marked by a. gradual
tapering off in production throughout
the fields. Many of the miners failed
to return yesterday from the week
end. Various collieries operated short
handed.
John l.. Lewis, international presi.
dent of the union, at his headquar.
ters announced the suspension would
be peaceful. He also took occasion
to castigate the mine owners for what
he called the lack of sincerity in their
attempts to negotiate a new contract
to replace the old one.
Assails Operators Stand.
He charged that 1.-The operators have
been taking advantage of the public
fear Of strike to unload at enhanced
prices a greatly augmented tonnage
of coal of inferior quality.
THE mine workers. he said, "have
no alternative except to await the
time when the anthracite operators,
having effected a maximum exploita.
tion, will be ready to discuss sanely
the problems of a new contract
w. w. Inglis, president of the Glen
Alden Coal Co. and chairman of the
anthracite operators scale committee
rejoined that the present suspension
was unfortunate and unnecessary. He
blamed the union leaders.
When evening comes these men
will have lost 81 200 900 in wages" he
added. THAT is the daily pay roll of
the mines.
Not only will miners and mines
lose, but all others will suffer. This
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