The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-04-19
21,OO0 COAL MEN
ARE STRIKING
In ALABAMA

Continued from page one.)
present North and South eco
nomic conflict over wage ditferen-
tials to the situation that brought
on the Civil war.
Theodore Swami, prominent
chemical manufacturer, declared
"before we are through with this
wage differential business we are
going to have a secession" When
questioned about this statement
later, Swami said he meant Sc
cession from the NRA."
There was a general fear
among the industrialists that the
NRA soon would attempt to scale
down wage differentials- in other
industries, in line with the March
81 amendment to the bituminous
coal code, which the coal opera
tors are fighting.
Some speakers, including Car
son Adams, coal operator, and L..
E. Foster, manager of the Birm-
ingham chamber of commerce,
warned that such an order was
expected to affect the steel indus
try May 81.
Foster said a group of North
ern coal operators had told him
in Washington last week that II
Southern operators could not pay
the higher wages they fought to
get out of the coal business"
Southern industrialists contend
that abolition of wage differen-
tials would drive them out of
business. They point to the high
er costs Of reaching markets as
one of the chief reasons for low
er labor costs in the South.
John Edgerton, Lebanon, Tenn,
president of the Southern Indus
trial Council, said Southern indus
trialists were "the victims of ig-
norance and misunderstanding"
by NRA officials.
Edgerton said he understood
that the NRA statistical depart
ment had studied the wage diffel-
entail situation and reported a
factual basis for even a greater
wage differential than at present.
He said the report showed the
average present differential was .
per cent, whereas 20 to 80 per
cent differential was justified.
sour fight is as much to the
laborers' interests as our own"
Edgerton said, because if the
differentials are narrowed oppor-
unities for employment will be
less"
Harry A. Berk, head Of the
Woodward Coal Co., said 60 per
cent of the men on his payroll
would lose their jobs if the wage
differential for his industry was
narrowed.
Leaders in the industrial group
meeting continued discussion last
night of plans for an educational
campaign in support of their con-
tention that their business cannot
survive without wide wage differ
entails.
Additional conferences were
scheduled for 13 southern states
within the next two weeks, culmi-
mating in another southwide meet
ing at Atlanta within the next
month.
Southern coal operators pro-
tested the order affecting their
industry at hearings in Washing
ton last week and awaited action
last night on their plea for
modification of the order in the
hope it would ease the tense
situation prevailing in the state.
Miners have refused to resume
work under federal court in
junction obtained by the opera
tors temporarily restraining en-
forcement Of the order in Ala
bama.
First bloodshed in the strike
area occurred yesterday when a
negro named Clisby was shot
from ambush and wounded when
he attempted to enter the Red
Diamond Coal Co., near Leeds
Another negro, E. D. England.
was shot to death by Deputy
Sheriff N. E. Kirkland and LGhief
| of Police L. H. Mason Of Eseds
The officers said they met Emo.
! land and a dozen other men as
.SNs