Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-01
RENEWAL Of MINE
VIOLENCE FEARED
Fresh Outbreaks Expected as
Police Hunt Slayers at
Pittston.

By the Associated Prtss.
PTTTETON, Pa, March 1.--While the
police were making an intensive drive TO
run down the three guninen held re-
spons.blc for The latest 5laytngs In Pitts
community to-day freely predicted that
there would be another outbreak IN the
factional warfare.
There appeared to he general ac-
ceptance of the likelihood tina. revenge
would be forthcoming for the shooting
to death Tuesday of Alex Campbell,
checkweighman at No. 8 colliery OF the
Pennsylvania Coal Co.. and Feter Reilly.
recording secretary OF Local Union. TO.
1903. United Mine Workers of America.
Hired gunmen, imported by their enc
mics. were believed By police TO have
fired the barrage OF shots that killed
the two men.
Lewis Help Is Asked.
Mayor William II. Gillespie has ap-
pealed to John l.. Lewis, lTesident Of
the United Mine Workers. to come TO
pittston at once and help restore reace
and order.
The mayor placed the responsibility
for the strife Oh the bitter hostility ex-
isting between mine officials. iiiine con-
tracts, union labor leaders and insur-
gent labor leaders connected With the
Pennsylvania Coal Co." He told Mr.
were In a state OF terror and turmoil
with. murders, attempted murders and
dynamitings Of frequent occurrence"
Mr. Lewis, who Is In Washington
indicated the most careful considera-
ton OF the situation would precede any
steps on his part TO support or replace
any Of the local union leaders In
Pittston.
Expressing the belief that meeting
called for next Sunday afternoon to
discuss the Staying Of Campbell and
Reilly was sponsored by radicals.
Mayor Gillespie intimatcd that the
gathering would be stopped. The mayor
was frank In stating that information
had come To him from many channels
that more killings by way OF reprisal
were contemplated.
The deaths of Campbell and Reilly
bring TO four the fatalities In the war;
fare since January IS, Another man
was seriously wounded and several have
had narrow escapes through the dyna-
hitting of their homes.
fractional Fights Blamed.
All the shootings are attributed TO
internal troubles In Union Local I763
Campbell was leader of an inhlirgent
group that gained control of the local
at a meeting January II, few hours
before the first Staying. Reilly WAS
one Of his lieutcnants. Frank Agati.
district organizer. who was shot and
killed February 10. was prominent
member nj the dep0sed administra-
ton, which lad the support of ninaldo
Cappellini. president Of the district,
Thomas Liilis. a member Of the griev-
ance committee of Local 1908 was
shot 10 death January 49,
The strife Is the elimination OF fac
li0nal disputes which began after the
strike Of 1890. Up 10 that time the
contract system was IN vogue.
Briefly. thia system calls for the giv~
ing out 10 individual contractors Of Il
eoliiery or section OF coliiery for them
~ mine They hire their own men,
mine as much coal n day aa They can
and pay their miners what they like.
10 long as u does not 90 below the
union minimum.
Through this system, II is alleged, the
contractors gathered thar own groups
ANA paid them slightly higher than
| union wages, bringing about conditions
that forced miners not allied with these
contractors out pf work,
Contract System Revived.
CappellinI. with Campbell and Reilly
we're leaders nf the revolt IN 1870 which
did away with the ayhlem, Fnr 4 time
there was no mare contract mining and
! all was quiHt, Then contractors re~
sumed operations,
Charging Gappeliini with signing with
] tie contract Hiinnrs, Campbeii rey1itrd
~ sst up lile inhslrgent group.