Evening star., 1933-08-07
Thousands in Southwestern
Pennsylvania Coal Field
Stay From Work.
UNION LEADERS CALLED
TRAITORS TO THEIR MEN
Betrayal of Workers Charged in
Pamphlets Attributed to Com
munist Organization.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BROWNSVILLE, Pa, August THE
Federal Government today began an in
quiry into alleged Communistic activi-
ties In the soft coal fields as thousands
Of striking miners refused to return to
work under the truce called by Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
Lloyd w. Bryan, assistant United
States attorney for the Western district
of Pennsylvania, said pamphlets have
been circulated among the miners as
serting that officers Of the United Mine
Workers and President Roosevelt were
"betraying" the workers cause.
Bryan declared the circulars bear the
name of the National Miners Union,
which, he said, has been decreed by the
courts to be a CommuniStlc organiza-
ton, affiliated with the Trade Union
Unity League.
Scattered Mines Reopen.
As the investigation got under way.
scattered mines reopened, but through
out the Southwestern Pennsylvania
field many collieries remained closed.
The H. C. Frick Coke Co., with mines
In the heart of the strike area, post
.
quest of Gov. Pinchot, who said he
feared trouble if work resumed today.
Thomas Moses, president of the COM
pany, who put off the opening today,
announced he is undecided whether
work will be resumed tomorrow.
I'm going to consult the Governor
later today and see what his wishes
are" Moses said.
The strikers, who say they want more
time in which to study terms OF the
agreement, had their picket army in
the field, but most picket lines dwlndled
after no resumption was attempted.
The last mine operating in Fayette
Ccunty-the Davidson mine Of the
Purity Connellsville Coal & Coke Co.,
employing $50 men-cloSed this morn
ing.
Troops and Police Prepare.
The miners say they will have sew
eral thousand on picket lines If the
Frick Co. tries to reopen its workings
tomorrow. A battalion of National
Guardsmen, sent into the area a week
ago by Gov. Pinchot, and State police
are preparing for any eventuality.
Renewed outbreaks of disorder, which
last week resulted in the death of one
man and the wounding of more than
score, are feared.
In Allegheny County several thou
sand workers of the Pittsburgh Coal
Co.. worlds largest producer, and the
Pittsburgh Terminal Coal Corporation
remained out.
They quit last week in sympathy with
the Fayette County miners, who demand
recognition of the United Mine Workers.
A back-to-the-mines movement got
under way in Allegheny County, but
pickets gathered at several large mines
and forestaued resumption.
Union Officials Distressed.
Union officials admittedly are dis
tressed by the anomalous situation
union miners striking for recognition
of their union. refusing to heed the
advice of their leaders to go back to
work.
p T. Pagan, president of district No
5, today blamed the disobedience and
defiant attitude on Communistic ele-
ments which he said are at work among
the men,
Some one is furnishing the men
with moonshine liquor and bunch of
irresponsibles are causing trouble" he
said
Pagan said the men are exercising
bad Judgment" in not returning to work
pending adoption of a code of fsir
competition for the industry.
A thousand men refused to go to
work at the Pittsburgh Coal Co.'S Mon
tour mine No. 10 today, alleging the
company's superintendent declined to
employ checkweighmen chosen by the
union.
Under the terms of the temporary
truce approved in Washington last week
the men were to have the privilege OF
selecting their own checkweighmen.
About 5000 miners employed by oper-
ators in the Clearfield- jefferson In
diana County district went back to work
today and two mines of the Bethlehem
Mines Corporation, a subsidiary OF
Bethlehem Steel, resumed in Cambria
County.
Most mines in Washington County
were shut down.
No disorder was reported from any
place in the district.