Evening star., 1943-05-01
Miners
Continued From First Paee.)


Our job in this war is to get coal
out and we are willing to do it in
any way possible" said Mr.. Morrow
Perhaps this is the only way now"
Mr.. Morrow added 1t might take
"some time" to get the miners back
to work.
OF the lengthy negotiations with
the miners in New York, Mr.. Morrow
said:
1--WE Operators were helpless in
the negotiations because the issues
we're between John L. Lewis and the
Government"
Other operators contacted said
Mr. Morrows statement appeared
correct" Most of them declined
to be quoted before reading the text
of the Presidents order.
Hubert Farrell, dictrict vice presi-
dent of the United Mine Workers,
said he could not understand just
what the Government plans to DO
with seized mines.
Il just can't figure it out" he said.
you know, no one can operate a
coal mine like you operate a fac
tory. It's an entirely different prop
osition."
Colleries whose tipples dot the
slopes of Pennsylvania coal-pro-
ducing hills and mountains were
virtually deserted as the States 200,-
900 miners obeyed the mo trespass"
edict of John L. Lewis and joined
the Nations greatest shutdown since
the United States went to war.
Throughout the night, operators
in the soft coal regions, hoping the
miners might heed the plea of Pres
ident Roosevelt not to strike against
their Government, had watched in
vain for sign that might reverse
the trend toward complete shut
down which set in week ago.
Hours before the midnight dead
line-when the extended United
Mine Workers contract with the op-
orators expired-more than 10000
coal diggers already had checked in
their lamps and gone home to await
word from Mr.. Lewis.
Some mines change to "early"
day shifts at $50 pm, others at
1890 and II. But, by large, the
heavy regular" day shift is the one
going into the pits around am.
Reports from all parts of the vast
soft coal region now employing
ll7,000 men were the same-none
but maintenance men, necessary to
keep the mines in condition, entered
the mines.
A check after the time for the
regular day shifts to report dis
closed virtually every mine not only
down entirely, but the fact that
there were no pickets
Near UniontoWn, at the Ralph
mine of the H. c. Frick Gu S. SteeD.
Coke Co., six pickets appeared at
| daybreak but later left.
AT two mines of the PENNSYLVANIA
Coal g. Coke Co., at Gallitzin g.
Cresson, in Cambria County, crews
went in at IL o'clock last night but
the day shift did not report. The
coal which was dug early this morn
ing there was not dumped from the
mine cars.
Fifteen thousand anthracite
miners in UNIV District 7, covering
the Hazelton area, failed to report
for the day shift. Another 1000 re-
manned out in adjacent District 9.
Previously, 1900 in the Wilkes-Barre
area had voted not to work.
The ranks of the idle were swelled
by recruits from the $4,000 who pro-
duce the Nations entire anthracite
supply from mines in nine counties
in Eastern Pennsylvania. The hard
coal miners had only brief notice
that their representatives in New
York had failed either to agree on a
new contract or an extension of the
old. which expired last midnight.
Thus. for the first time since 1922,
both hard and soft coal miners were
idle.
The standstill came virtually with
out incident. At the Palmer mine of
the H. c. Frick Coke Co. pickets
said they turned aside one man who
proved "obstreperous." That was the
sole incident" reported.
A union member at Gallitzin said
he believed the men wanted to work
on Monday, on q retroactive pay
basis, and that special meeting Of
the local had been called for tomor-
row to discuss the situation.
THE men believe President Roose-
velt will bear them out" the miner
added.
Believe Stoppage Brief.
Over all, however, there prevailed
a feeling among both operators and
miners that the work stoppage would
not last long.
Someone has to give in this crisis
and feel certain the miners will be
working next week." said one opera
tor.
In Fayette County, the bright
glow from 10000 beehive coke ovens
was dimmed as drafts on the new
charges Of coal were lowered to per-
NIT 96 hours OF burning instead of
the normal 48. The coke from these
ovens Is funneled direct by rail into
steel blast furnaces, supplying from
to IS per cent of the steel now be-
ing produced in this district.
Steel men said weeks shutdown
would cause drop Of 8 to IS per
cent in steel production.
Gov. Edward Martin, a retired
major general, who announced yes
terday he was solidly behind Presi-
dent Roosevelt, was in Uniontown,
in the heart Of the rich Connells-
vile coke region, to attend sched-
uled parade tonight, marking cele-
bration Of the seventh annual
"Americanism" day.
Thousands Of miners were ex-
pected to be among the $4,000
paraders.
Yesterday was payday for thou
sands Of Pennsylvania's soft coal
miners. Long queues formed in
| - - Il