Evening star., 1943-01-09
j. ). Summons Miner!
To Mass Meeting in
Move 10 End Strike
Anthracite Shortage
In Some Areas More
Critical Than in 1918
By the Associated Press,

oS the Associated PreSS
WILKES-BARRE, Pa, Jan. g.
The War Department summoned
Pennsylvania's striking anthra-
cite miners to a mass meeting
here at 2 pm. today to urge an
immediate return to work as at
least one section of the oil-ra-
toned East reported the threat
of "a hard coal shortage more
critical than during the last
last war"
Even as the Army's settlement
effort began, however. the 11-day-
old walkout spread to a new area,
closing a colliery at Hazleton, Pa,
the 18th so far affected, and bring
ing to more than 5000 the number
of miners out demanding wage
increase and reduced union dues
James Hennihan, secretary of a
striking local of the United Mine
Workers. said the War Department
asked him to arrange the settle
ment meeting and ordered 1t Col
Charles w. Kerwood, attached to
the departments Washington Office,
to deliver the back-to-work plea.
Philadelphia Stocks Low.
Meanwhile IN Philadelphia the
Pennsylvania Retail Coal Mer-
chants Association estimated that
so per cent of the city's coal yards
were out of nut coal and that sup
plies of stove coal were nearly gone
Egg and pea coal, which generally
must be mixed with nut and stove,
were still available, the association
said, but added
If the strike continues these sup
plies will be gone in a few days
and Philadelphia will have a coal
shortage more critical than during
the last war;
A great shortage in the New
England States had been reported
earlier by Mark S. James, Penn
sylvania secretary of commerce and
member of committee whcih fixes
anthracite production quotas.
Coal fields in this area produce
virtually all the Nations anthracite,
of which the Government has esti-
mated that 66 per cent is used in
homes and the rest to heat buildings
with only a fractional part con-
sumed in industrial production
Thousands of homes and buildings
have converted to coal heat because
Of oil rationing.
Emergency Session Held.
The Anthracite Committee of
Twelve, the industry's governing
body made up of six union leaders
and six operators, met in a closed,
emergency session yesterday. and
last night issued statement urging
the strikers to return at once "in
order that the Nation may receive
the maximum quantity of coal to
which it is entitled in the existing
emergency"
out that the miners will receive
time-and-a-half pay for Saturday
work under Government plan soon
to increase the work week from five
to six days. 1t did not specifically
mention wage demands, but said it
will be in readiness to meet to con-
slider any matter or matters which
may be referred to it.
The strikers demanded a fiat 81
day bonus. Their present wages
vary. since they work on a tonnage
basis. In a rich seam, with a low
slate content, they have made as
high as SIS day, but unofficial
sources placed the average at about
$3.50.
The Committee of Twelve has no
jurisdiction in the dues controversy.
Increase in Dues Protested.
A spokesman for operators on the
committee said, I'VE have no dis
agreement with labor. but we do
think that during wartime the small
matter of dues should not affect
production. y"
The strikers charged that btu
minus mine delegates held an unjust
balance Of power at a UNIV con-
vention last October at which dues
were increased from 81 to $1.50
monthly over their protests. The
wave Of walkouts, condemned by the
union, began when the second pay
ment of the increased dues was de-
Quoted from pay checks under the
eheckof system.