New Britain herald., 1928-02-06
INVESTIGATION IS PLANNED

ASkeO 10 LOOK lnCO the Sltu8llOQ
 Called "Deplorable" by LaGuar- United Press Staff Correspondent.
 Pittsburgh, Pa, Feb. 6 (NP)-The strike of soft coal miners in Penn sylvania and Ohio was engaging na- tional attention today.
 For months the strike was looked upon as a matter of local labor un- rest which. like so many industrial disputes before it, soon would end with victory for neither employer nor employe.
 3OO,OOO Involved
 But upwards of 3OO,0o0 persons have been involved directly since the strike began last April and there has been some bloodshed. Political past few days to survey the situation. As a result both houses of congress soon will be asked to consider im- mediately an investigation such as was proposed recently by Senator Hiram w. Johnson of California.
 Wheeler Comments
 Senator Burton K. Wheeler. of Montana. a member of the senate interstate commerce committee. made a brief inspection of the coal field and then returned to Washing ton with the following comment:
 The hillsides of Pennsylvania are the most fertile breeding grounds for Bolshevism l have ever seen."
 Representative F. H. LaGuardia of New York. another visitor, promised he would report his observations of "deplora ble conditions" to the house of representatives on Wednesday morning.
 Officials of the Pittsburgh Coal company and the Pittsburgh Ter minal Coal corporation. largest soft coal producers, announced that the output of fuel was normal for this time of year. In fact. they added. they have been compelled to lay off men and cut down shifts because the supply exceeded the market de- mand.
 Company officials have declined to meet miners representatives on any terms. explaining that there is no dispute to settle.
 To Investigate Riots
 Governor John s. Fisher has or dercd an investigation into rioting at the mining camps of Bruceton and Broughton. The public school at Broughton was closed after an ap- peal was made to the governor for protection.
 Such facts. and others, were learned by Senator Wheeler, whose visit was unnanounced. He spent a day interviewing striking miners. non-union miners, coal and iron po- lice, deputy sheriffs, borough offi- cials and business men.
 Then he announced he would ask the senate interstate commerce con- mittee to suspend other business and take up the Johnson resolution.
 Following Facts Seen
 A non- partisan onlooker finds such facts as these:
 The unions say 100000 men are on strike. Coston r.. Warne. assist ant professor of economics at the University of Pittsburgh, estimates the number at nearer 55.0oo. The rest of those directly affected are the families of the miners.
 The nnion figure for the Pitts burgh district is 45,000 strikers. Prof. Warne places it at nearer 3o,- 900.
 For the past few months on the strength of decisions handed down by the courts of Pennsylvania. the coal companies have evicted the families of striking miners from company-owned homes. The United Mine Workers of America have erected temporary barracks to house the strikers families.
 fTOls tdIut tllsll lp- GOO persons now are living in these temporary barracks, the number in- creasing daily as additional con, struction is completed.
 II was amazed by the conditions existing in the coal camps" Senator Wheeler said. Tt is inconceivable to me that helpless women and chill dfen should be evicted from their homes in the dead of winter when there apparently is no need for the houses which they have occupied"
 Reopen school.
 Pittsburgh. Feb. 6 R-The Broughton school was re-opened to- day in that mining town under the eye of two state troopers and a deputy sheriff. The school was closed last week when bullets, alleged to have been fired by non-union min- CTS, struck the building while pupils were inside.
 Teachers were escorted to the building by the state police, the pu- pills gathered in the school yard as usual, and at g o'clock. entered the structure. Plans of Sheriff Robert H. Braun. of Allegheny county. to guard the school house with a ma- chine gun failed to materialize. The troopers were fully armed and when questioned about the machine gun they said it was decided the weapon would not be needed.
 Maine Suffers When Cold Wave Brings Zero Weather