The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-25
STRIKE is IMPROBABLE
LITTLE DANGER THAT THE An
TERACITE MINERS WILL QUIT.
Small Gain Would BE Made Except
Recognition of the UniOn-COn-
servative Action Planned.

PITTSBURG, Feb. 4.-The Commercial
Gazette tomorrow will say: while the
industrial East, with its railway and other
interests largely dove-tailed with the an
thracite colleries, is looking forward with
dread anticipation for the advent of April
/ as the day which another great min
ers' strike may be called. the body of the
United Mine Workers of America is stand
ing on a conservative platform, which is
reasonably certain to obviate anything of
the kind Even if the anthracite operators
refuse to meet the miners in joint wage
conference it is barely possible that
strike can be avoided. Consent in any
form, even If only tacit, to allow the pres
ent anthracite agreement to continue, thus
opening the way for the miners to correct
various local conditions, promises to close
the matter, with all its complications In
conference the miners have little to gain
save recognition for their union.
Miners from the bituminous fields are
naturally vastly interested in the outcome
of the proposed wage conference in the
anthracite fields. After discussing the mat
ter with number of representative miners
in the Pittsburg district, the consensus of
opinion would seem to be that since the
bituminous fields have settled their wage
scale at last years rates, barring local
complications, the anthracite wage ques-
ton might be settled on the same basis.
For the betterment of the condition of
the anthracite miner the organization of
the miners has already taken steps to Sc
cure legislation in Pennsylvania. They
are asking state laws for the payment
by the ton instead of the car. the estab-
lishment OF check weighmen and other de-
sirable provisions. For these laws all OF
the miners of Pennsylvania and of other
districts will cooperate. The indianapolis
convention of the miners went on record
as opposed to a demand for 10 per cent.
advance for the anthracite districts, and
every move of that convention in relation
to the anthracite fields for conserva-
tive action. The convention directed the
officers of the anthracite districts to block
a custom of operators to lay up large stocks
Of coal by ordering curtailment of work
to meet the conditions of the market.
This is now being done and in it the min
ers are making their only aggressive move
than may figure in the proposed settle
ment next month.
"a policy for the proposed joint con-
ference with anthracite operators will be
outlined at a convention of the anthra-
cite miners and the national officials called
to take place at Hazleton on March Z. w.
ID. Ryan. secretary-treasurer of the Illinois
miners, said recently in relation TO the
anthracite situation: With a satisfactory
scale settled for the bituminous fields
hitch in the anthracite fields would hardly
justify the calling on strike of the entire
organization. Such action would be
violation of the interstate joint agreement
for the bituminous fields and the various
district agreements TO which miners will
not consent.
This and next month are the periods of
district wage settlements for the miners.
I'm the Pittsburg district prompt re-
affirmation of the present scale probably
will be tied up for time by demand Of
the miners for the check-off system. This
issue will be stubbornly fought by the
workers committee and as obstinately OPP
posed by the operators, Ii would mean
everything to the organization here. put
ting it i'm way of trebling in a year its pres
ent membership in good standing of about
1900. Representatives of the miners are
going abroad I'm the unorganzed Irwin and
Allegheny valley fields. They hope that the
organization may be in position to make
a demand for the Irwin field with fair pros
poets of establishing II on April /. with the
possibility of declaring a strike and or
ganizing marches"