The age-herald., 1900-06-23
MINERS BEHIND
 CLOSED DOORS Action at Yesterdays Meeting
 is Not Known. MANY QUESTIONS TO DECIDE Outside of Wage Scale the Most Impor- tant Matter to Come Up is the Adoption of Twice-a-
 Month Pay Day
MANY QUESTIONS TO DECIDE

The United Mine Workers of this district yesterday resumed consideration of the wage scale for the year. beginning July l. Both the morning and afternoon sessions were held behind closed doors, and the changes from the present contract if there be any, are not known to the public.
 It is stated that several of the locals have asked for material increases in the scales at their respective places, but just how much is a well-guarded secret. The wage scale now in effect in the State is not uniform, but varies at different mines It is understood, though, no member of the organization will stand for the assertion, that an effort will be made to have d uni form scale, in far as practicable, adopt ed for all the mines
 The wage scale is a very complicated question, and requires the greatest care in it's preparation. There are many things to be considered in connection with it, and what seems to the advantage 1.-the miners at one place will work to their disadvant- age at others: then the character of the seam, its thickness, hardness, and other things have to be taken into consideration before an equitable basis can be determ- ined.
 The opinion seems to prevail that the op- orators and the operatives will get together on the question of wages before the expir- ation of the present contract and that all questions will be settled in time for the new scale to become effective July 1. There is no inclination on the part of either operators or operatives, far as can be learned, to precipitate a strike this sum- mer, and the indications now are that no stoppage of work will occur as the result of a failure to agree On prices or other con- ditions.
 The Semi NJ onthIy Pay Day
 Outside of the wage scale the next most important thing the miners will contend for is the twice-a-month pay day. It is stated that the operators are opposed to granting this, but whether either side will refuse to yield this point remains to be seen.
 It seems the coal operators in the Indian Territory, where a strike is now on, are trying to fill the places of the striking miners with imported labor. It is reported that labor agents from that section are on their way to Alabama for the purpose of securing men for the mines there. Before the convention went into executive session yesterday afternoon Secretary Clemo read the following communication from the local lodge of United Mine workers at Harts- borne, I. T.:
 "Hartshorne, I. T., June 20, 1900. U. L. Clemo, Esq, Birmingham, Ala.
 My Dear Sir and Brother-I write to fn- form you to be on the lookout for labor agents by the name of Mat Parsons or Jim Crabtree from this place, they have left here headed that way. We can't very well afford to let the coal companies import more men in this district, No 21, at the present stage of the game, if we can help it. as prospects are bright for a settlement in the near future.
 Hoping the above will get due consider ation from you, l am, yours very truly
 IS. s. Savio." It is now believed that the miners will have the wage scale ready to place before the coal operators by Monday. It's prepar- ation is a tedious job and requires much time Only few of the things to be in- cluded in it had been considered up to yes- terday afternoon.