AMERICAN MINERS STRIKE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17420, 3 April 1922, Page 7

AMERICAN MINERS STRIKE.

HALF A MILLION OUT. GOVERNMENT NEUTEAL. {By C»bl«'-IVi* AsßociV:c/r.—-Copjright.) 'JLtntraliac acd N.Z. CabU AxocUtion.) , VANCOUVER. March 31. While tho coal strike is not effective officially until midnight, a thousand miners in twenty States left tho mines this morning. Half a million miners are expected to be out before midnight. The Government has abandoned hope of arranging a settlement. It has announced that it will protect minens who remain at work, but otherwise will remain neutral. [As long ago as January, reports showed that a big strike in the American coal-mining industry was likely, owing to tho expiry of wage contracts, at tho end of March. Tho owners hoped to reduce, wages, but the miners' spokesmen declared that not only would there be no reduction, but increases would bo sought. President Harding urged the holding of a. national conference, apparently without success, and a fewdays ago it was rciiortod that 95 per cent, of tho .unions thrmiughoufc tho United States had resolved upon a strike on April Ist to force tho owners into a conference ou the wages question.] (.Received April '2nd. 5.5 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 1.

The miners' strike began at midnight. It is estimated 600,000 men obeyed the order, 500,000 being union members and the balance non-union members. The strikers left the pumpmen, engineers, and firemen at the mines.

At various mines in West Virginia, Kentucky, Colorado, and Alabama the men refused to strike.

Tlw wnlk-out extends to Western Canada, but in Eastern Canada tho men arc remaining at work. The United States (has nine weeks' coal stocks on hand. The strikers on tho anthracite fields demand a 20 per cent, ware increase, and the bituminous workers want chnnged wrrking. conditions. Many railway workers will he aifected if tho strike continues. The Government has announced it will not interfere unless a public emergency arises.

SENATE LABOUR COMMITTEE TO INTERVENE. (Received April 2nd, 11.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, April 1. Senator Borah, chairman of the Senatorial Labour Committee, declares that unless the coal industry is reorganised in the interest of the public, the only solution of the problem may be Government ownership of the mines. He adds that the 'public will no longer submit to the present operation, and the committee is preparing to take action in the strike.