Evening star., 1925-09-02
Last of Coal Moved-Rail-
roads Prepare to Lay Off
10000 Workers.
MAINTENANCE QUESTION
BRINGS NEW DISPUTE
Duties of Men Retained to Pro-
tect Mines Taken Up by
Union Leaders.
By the Assoclated Prcss.

Hc dltIldClle Ie%lon lOudN DeSdh W
feel the aftermath of the mine suspen-
sion which for "a hours has padlocked
its basic industry and demobilized an
army of 14s, 900 bread winners.
The business paralysis which the
10 anthracite counties face indefinite
ly began to creep down the rails OF
the roads carrying it's coal. Outbound
tonnage is practically cleaned up, and
on its way to market. Inevitable
orders for shutdown of shops and lay
off of shopmen, car repairers and train
crews on mine runs have begun to put
in an appearance.
Predictions that at least 10 900 rail-
road men would follow the miners into
idleness by the end of the week be-
cause of the suspension appeared justi-
fed in reports that Scranton, Pa,
alone would produce half that many
unemployed. The Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western Railroad expects
to close down it's Scranton and Keyser
Valley shops on Friday, throwing out
{ 200 men. The Delaware and Hudson
announced prospective lay-off of 1900
trainmen, and has placed in white
lead so freight locomotives used on
coal runs in anticipation of a pro-
tracted shutdown of the mines. The
Lehigh Valley and other heavy ton
mage roads are due with similar an
nouncements soon.
Maintenance Row On.
Union leaders of the three districts
are engaged in smoothing out differ
ences developing in connection with
the work of the 10000 maintenance
men remaining in the mines by agree
ment with the operators. Some ques-
ton is arising as to what is main
tenance work"
Mine owners continue their assur-
ances that they do not contemplate
Importation of outside help in at.
tempt to reopen the workings. Ed.
ward W. Parker, director of the an
thracite bureau of information. said
the State anthracite mine law pro-
vided an additional security on this
score. A miner must first spend two
years as a laborer and then pass an
examination to become a full-fiedged
digger. according to the statute.
A noticeable movement of mine
workers setting out in search of work
in other fields developed today. Spe-
cial excursion trains on various roads
carried quotas of 'foragers" as well
as pleasure seekers.
John l.. Lewis, international prest-
dent of the miners union, has main
tained silence at his headquarters at
the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel since the
shutdown, other than to say that
"Everything is coming along as eX-
pected."
Lewis and Murray Meet.
Mr., Lewis and Philip Murray, inter-
national vice president, are holding
conferences with union representatives
from bituminous coal fields in various
parts of the country. The discussion
is described as general" and the
agents are said to be making merely
routine reports. The union leaders de-
cline to comment on outside reports of
joint bituminous-anthracit plans on
the part of the mine union.
Producers of smokeless coal in
central Pennsylvania, Maryland and
northern West Virginia are meeting
here today to review plans they have
announced for invading anthracite
markets and also for protesting
against freight rate favors they assert
West Virginia non-union operators
will receive October Is at the hands
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
Western Strike i'm Balance.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla, Septem-
ber CR.-Today may determine
whether the Statewide strike called
by mine union officials will hold up.
Yesterday 1000 miners did not report
for work, but another factor was in
iected-pay day. 1t has long been
the custom with miners that pay day
is a holiday, and operators declared
that, with the observance over, the
large part of these men would return
to their jobs.
McAlester and adjoining districts
were hit hardest, 200 workmen not
reporting for duty. Fifteen of the
2S mines were down to skeleton crews
and all suspended operations before
the day ended.
Henryetta was little affected by the
order. A strike has been in progress
there for several months.
Miners Are Warned.
wILKES-BARRE Pa, September
CP.-Idle anthracite mine workers
were warned today by Rinaldo
CapelIini, president of District No. l,
United Mine Workers, not to accept
other employment at reduced wages,
thus undertaking regular outside
labor. His warning followed quickly
reports that mine workers had been
accepting work in violation of this
ruling of the union. 1t was reported
here yesterday that mine workers
were taking laboring jobs at 80 cents
an hour, while the regular rate is so
cents or more.
1000 Miners Leave.
SHAMOKIN, Pa, September 2 Cp).-
The ticket agent of the Pennsylvania
railroad here reported today that more
than 900 anthracite mine workers
had purchased transportation to the
bituminous coal fields and other points
near Pittsburgh, Pa, since last
Monday.