AMERICAN MINERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 November 1925, Page 5

AMERICAN MINERS

EXTENSION OF STRIKE

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

NEW YORK, November 27.

Industry generally, as well as the householders, is beginning to feel the pinch of the anthracite coal strike, which began on July 3. Anxiety is being accentuated; ; by threats of an additional strike of the soft coal miners, which would doubtless plunge many parts of the United States, particularly along the Eastern seaboard, into consternation. - i

Such threats of a soft coal strike are contained in a letter from Mr. John Lewis, the President of the United Mine Workers of America, to President Coolidge, in which Mr. Lewis has requested' the President to intervent and to compel the operators to observe the agreement. President Coolidge has not yet officially replied, but it is understood that he greatly resents the tone of Mr. Lewis’ letter with its > veiled threats of a further strike. The mine owners still strenuously oppose any agreement that does. not provide for arbitration in the settlement of disputes. Meantime, the Fair Trade eLague is charging the anthracite mine operators with adulterating and misbranding their products and even with selling stone amongst the coal, and also with profiteering by adding unnecessary links to the chain of distribution, and generally with creating additional hardships. ’ The Manufacturers’ Association threatens an industrial boycott of the Union mines unless the anthracite strike is promptly settled. Characteristically the operators are claiming that they could mine plenty of soft coal with non-union men. The miners, on the other hand, are claiming that a large number of the non-union men would join in a walk-out. The best opinion, however, seems to be that industrial turmoil would be unavoidable as even the railways would lose supplies, ■ except for the few. possessing their own mines. Therefore the whole nation is now anxiously awaiting President Coolidge’s move. Meantime the public are being advised to buy soft coal immediately.

ENTOMBED MAN RESCUED

LONDON, November 28

A fall of earth in the Wath Main Colliery, in South Yorkshire, last Tuesday evening, entombed two miners, Poole and Flinders. The rescue parties had to remove one hundred tons of debris, and they practically had given up hope till at midnight on Friday, they heard tapping; Then Poole's voice could be distinguished. Redoubled efforts resulted in the rescue of Toole at eight o’clock this morning in a state of collapse after an eighty hours’ ordeal. A search is being continued for Flinders.