Belington Progressive

HARDCOAL STRIKE ON

Philadelphia, September 1. The hard coal suspension involving a walkout of 158,000 mine workers went into effect at midnight as scheduled. It is reported peaceable and so far as can be learned, virtually 100 percent effective.

The assignment of the 10,000 maintenance men who return to the pits by mutual arrangement to man pumps and attend to the general upkeep during the suspension, was reported as having gone through without a hitch.

The first of the three full shifts insisted upon by the union went down the shafts in time to relieve the night shifts coming out.

The union made good its assurance it would not resort to picketing, which it explained would be unnecessary in view of the effectiveness of the tieup.

The closing night of the old contract was celebrated as a festival in many of the mining towns.

Philadelphia, August 31st. The closing hours of the anthracite wage contract, the expiration of which at midnight goes down in coal history as zero hour for a suspension of 158,000 miners, was marked by a parting thrust at the mine owners by John L. Lewis, president of the United Mine Workers of America.

Mr. Lewis charged that the operators had capitalized public apprehension of a suspension to boost their sales of coal at enhanced prices. He said the miners had no choice in the present wage deadlock except to wait until the operator, having effected a maximum public exploitation, will be ready to discuss sanely the problems of a new contract.

The miners will present a 100 per cent solidarity in the present demonstration, according to Mr. Lewis who pledged that the public need have no fear of disorders in the mining communities.