Show Wildcat Strikes Spread in Coal Mines Production Drop Threatens to Cripple Industry Fuels Administration Attributes Decline Directly to Walkouts W L B Refusal Looms for Model Contract By Associated Press ina Ina in coal Wildcat strikes spread to more soft pits Monday a work stoppage emphasized by a solid fuels administration re report report report re- re port of sharply dropping production of the vital fuel in the last reporting week The fuels administration attributed the coal production decline decline de de- de- de cline dine directly to the strikes and continued loss of man power reporting th the bituminous slump for the week ending October 16 at nearly OO tons under the previous week and the anthracite anthracite anthracite cite loss at tons The coal developments adding stringency to a crisis which the war production board said already threatened crippling of steel plants shipyards and munitions factories accompanied the threat of strike action on the equally vital railroads over wages wages- Meanwhile there were increasing indications that the war labor board would not approve in its present form the proposed Illinois bituminous contract which the miners have held up asa as' as asa as as' a model for the whole industry Most of the striking miners attribute attribute attribute at at- tribute their idleness to the United Mine Workers' Workers traditional policy of no contract contract no no work S In the face of appeals from fromI union leaders to go back Into the I workings lest they prejudice their own case workers refused to enter seven more mines in Harlan county Kentucky boosting Idleness idleness idleness idle idle- ness there to nearly half halt of the miners in the county Ab About ut 2750 men were involved joining others who quit four more mon Harlan mines last week That difficulty was wu somewhat offset by the return of about men to five mints mines in the Big Sandy region of northeastern Kentucky after settlement of grievance grievances which were di d JJ l al and unconnected with th the th wide nation contract Issue to Illinois Illinois' list of nonworking miners min mm- miners min min- ers era climbed to nearly MOO compared compared com corn pared to about Saturday Most of the strikes were in southern south south- em ern Illinois Big Colliery Closed The big Maiden mine of the Kellys Kelly's Creek Colliery company at Maidsville W. W Va Vs was closed by the refusal of about men to work without a contract and another another another an an- other men men at other pits In that state went out with them More Jore were expected to Join the walkout on later shifts Six big mines mine went back into production in Alabama but crews crew were less than normal though U M W officials there predicted the walkouts of cit most of the states state's miners would end soon All of the resuming mines provide fuel for the coal and iron plants in the Birmingham area Mines of the Tennessee Coal Iron on Railroad company biggest southern steel teel producer still were idle An estimated Alabama miners still were out Nearly all deep mines in Indiana employing were still Idle The big producing area in Sn PennsylvanIa Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Penn Penn- sylvania was wu quiet with only men out in a dispute attributed toa to toa toa a local grievance In Kentucky the Big Sandy resumption re resumption resumption re- re was wu only partial with some men still involved in eight strikes for an estimated d state total of 7 10 idle Men Idle Altogether reports Indicated that some men were off the job on the day which the W L B had lad set as u the deadline for a re- re return turn to work The Illinois contract calls for Cor a minimum increase of a day dayn In n miners' miners earnings but reports here inert Indicated W V L B favors ors a formula trimming the bo boost t to minimum with the Increase in increase In In- crease ease going up on longer work weeks That Information o of f week-end week emergency sessions in which the board discussed the case The rail employment problem meantime neared a crisIs The five Uve operating unions prepared for fora a 5 strike vote among workers work work- ers era rs who demanded a minimum wage boost of 3 a day A federal emergency board recommended an Increase of four cents an hour The strike vote will require about 30 lays days In conjunction the Brotherhood of f Railroad Trainmen demanded a sweeping revision of working rules for or its Ita membership The president and end wage committee would be given en n the power to call a strike to enforce a arfy y demands made upon he the railroad management This road broad change is to be submitted to o 0 the union members for a a. vote ote In another action A F L union leaders threatened a a. strike over oer the he war labor board decision warding awarding five cents an hour wage Increase to Los Angeles rail raU- railway way ay and motor coach ye |