Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-09-23
MORE THAN 100000
IN COAL WALK-OUT,
BUT PEACE LOOMS
Long-T Threatened Strike Is
On, Affecting Miners in
26 States.
1T2-CENT TONNAGE RATE
is ONLY POINT AT ISSUE
Mediator Calls at White House
to Report Settlement Chances
Are Good.
BY the Associated Press.

| BY the Associated Press.
The long-threatened soft coal strike
was on today.
In Pennsylvania and West Virginia
more than 100000 men Joined the
waIkout: in Illinois about IS 900 were
said to have been affected; more were
out in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio,
Indiana and Kansas; even in Wash
| ington State orders were issued for the
| 1000 members of the United Mine
| Workers there to strike Immediately.
| The U. d. w. claimed 100000 in all
would go out.
Prospects of an agreement to end
the strike were reported good today by
| the Presidents representative, who has
been struggling to end differences be-
/ tween miners and operators.
Edward F. McGrady, Assistant Sec
rotary Of Labor, made that optimistic
assertion as he left the White House
today. He left with one of the Presi-
dents secretaries a full report Of the
! situation. but did not ask presidential
assistance.
IL Cents Only Point a: Issue.
The mediator reported that al
points of disagreement save one had
been settled. The miners had asked
10 cents a ton increase for cutting
and loading soft coal. Operators had
offered cents.
At 2 am. today. just before the
conference broke up without agree
ment, operators boosted their offer tt
~ cents and miners dropped Their
request to 9.
The United Mine workers, though
/ had declined to recall their instruc-
tons to 100000 workmen to stay
away from the coal pits. The strike
order went into effect automatically al
midnight, with miners and operators
to meet again this afternoon.
Should the strike develop into a
major struggle. it would be the fourth
such conflict in the long-sick industry
since the World War.
Relief Question Appears.
The 400 1000 miners claimed by the
U. NJ. w. as members are estimated
10 have 100000 dependents, raising
possibilities of heavy relief needs
should the strike be prolonged.
AS for the effect on industry, Off
Gals estimated business as a whole
would not begin to feel the stcppage
in coal output for so DAYS or more
although some concerns which buy
coal on a hand-to-mouth basis might
experience the pinch much earlier. e.
The United Mine Workers had
asked for an increase of 10 cents a
ton for cutting and loading sott coal
They also sought raise of so cents
day for day labor and IS FER cent
for yardage and deadwcrk (eleaning
out the mine).
Operators Counter Offer.
The operators had countered witt
an offer of an increase of 6 cents 6
ton for cutting and loading. an in
crease of so cents for day labor anc
10 per cent for yardage and dead
work.
The Is States involved are: Ala
bama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Ken
lucky. Missouri, Michigan, Maryland
Montana, New Mexico, North Caro-
lima. North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma
Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Yves
Virginia, Washington, wyoming, Ten
nessee and Texas.
When the Negotiating Committee
recessed early today, McGrady sale
the day labor and yardage rates hac
been agreed on and that the miner;
and operators were within a cent ano
half of an agreement on tonnage
rates. He did not say, however, which
side had yielded.
Coal operators and labor officials
said it was impossible to say just what
the increases asked by the unior
would mean to the individual minel
(See COAL, Page 2D