The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-04-02
Mellon Leads Drive
to Cut Miners Pay

Continued from Page Ore)
the district, who announced the mines
would be operated with non-union la
Dor.
The Pittsburg Terminal Coal Com
pany posted the scale it was willing
to pay, which is about 81 lower than
terms of the Jacksonville wage scale.
While the Pittsburg Coal Co.,
which stands with the Pittsburg Ter
minal Coal as an enemy Of unionism,
boasted thru its executive vice-presl-
dent, c. E. Lesher, that most of its
men were at work, union officials in
sist that many of them have quit,
and most Of them will come out later.
Sheriffs Come Out.
With small army Of deputy sher-
ifs on duty members of the United
Mine Workers Of America gathered
here today for mass meetings as 45,-
600 unionists suspended work.
The meetings held to celebrate the
goth anniversary of the establish
ment of the eight-hous day fell coin
cidently with the first day Of the
nationwide suspension, and sheriff
Robert H. Braun, taking provoca-
tive attitude directed his men to dis
perse any assemblage that threaten
ed to become riatous."
Because today is a holiday in the
union mines and tomorrow is a
"short" day, the effect of the sus-
pension call in this district will not
be apparent until early next week, 1t
vas believed.
Vice President Phil. Murray, placed
bv the Lewis administration Of the
United Mine Workers Of America in
direct charge of the situation, hurried
from one group meeting to another.
He scored the Pittsburg Coal Com
pany, chief stumbling block OF the
mine workers in their efforts to
unionize this district, charging the
company was importing large num-
bers of guns into the non-union min
ing camps while the miners have not
even thought Of resorting to violence.
The first frame-up case against a
union miner has already taken place,
with the arrest of Joseph Ferguson,
so, of Yokon, Pennsylvania. Fergu-
son is an active unionist, and will be
held in Jail because an explosion OF
dynamite took place in the omen coun-
try at Wyano. The blast did no dam
age, and there is no evidence that
Ferguson had anything to do with it
Operators Ask Farley.
COLUMBUS, o., April 1.--Nego-
tiations for a settlement between
Ohio bituminous miners and coal OPP
orators of the state Of the wage con
troversy, which would permit resump'
ton Of work in the Ohio coal fields
marked the first day Of the general
suspension.
AS miners throughout The variou;
Ohio soft coal fields carried their
tools from the mines. and preparec
for long cessation, Lee Hall, presi'
dent Of the District No. G, United
Mine Workers, announced from Cam.
bridge. O., that he would accent ar
invitation sent by telegram from the
sAssio- Of the Ohio coal operators as.
sociation at Toledo, calling for joint
conference in Columbus Anril 7.
Stoppage General.
The suspension Of work in the Ohio
mines was general, reports here to-
day indicated, only about Is small
auxiliary mines, supplying pottery
plants or other industrial establish
ments in their immediate vicinity
continuing operation.
Anticipation of long, bitter struR-
gle in the mine districts was reflected
in the reports Of travelling salesmer
who declared merchants were buy
ling on a 'hand-to-mouth" basis, Will