The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-03
Indications Are That Operators
and Mine Workers viii
Reopen Negotiations
NOT AN IRRITATING
INCIDENT 50 FAR
Settlement, 1t Is Freely Predicted In
Some Quarters, VIII Come Within
Three Weeks-No Meet
Ings Yesterday.

1t is reasonable to say that no large
body of coal miners out of employment
ever conducted themselves In a more or
derby manner than the United Mine
Workers of this district, who quit work
with the expiration of their contract
June 30. and no body of employers, per-
Ing toward the men with whom they
failed to reach wage agreement than
the members Of tie Coal Operators AS
ISOLATION. Yesterday was the second day
of suspension of work at the mines and
if any irritating incident has occurred
no one has heard of 1t.
At the United Mine Workers head
quarters in the Chalifoux building yisi-
tors were not lacking but every miner
who called was in pleasant humor and
President Flynn and Secretary Clemo had
cherry greeting for one and all.
The miners held no meeting yesterday
and neither did the operators associa-
tic A meet. The latter has not held
meeting since the joint convention adj
journed Saturday.
Steps for a Settlement.
The headquarters of the operators in
the Morris were open all day, but not
many of the coal men put in an appear
ance. Informal conferences, however,
were held somewhere, and 1t was learned
last night that steps would probably be
taken within the next few days looking
10 a reopening of negotiations with the
United Mine Workers. On Tuesday the
talk was of long struggle, but yester-
day the talk was altogether of hopeful
sort. 1t was certeinly in the air that the
operators and representatives OF the
mine workers would get together and set
tie the issues. 1t now seems likely that
a wage scale would be signed inside OF
Three weeks that is to say, soon after
the meeting of the national convention
of the United Mine Workers of America
at Indianapolis. 1t is known that the
CORPORATIONS earnestly desire to resume
operations, and 1t is known too, that the
miners are eager to get back to work.
And the feeling on both sides being
friendly, it is easy to imagine that
satisfactory agreement will be reached
when the question of a scale is again
taken up.
IT have no news to report" said an
operator, ''but I think 1t will be safe
prediction that when the next joint meet
ing takes place results will follow In
quick order.
Woodward Settlement.
While the officers of the United Mine
workers and the officers of the Wood
ward Iron Company still decline to state
the terms upon which the thirty days
agreement was signed for a continuation
of work at the Woodward mines 1t was
rumored In the street that the only stipu-
lation was that the miners were to be
paid at the rate of the new contract dat
ing from July to be entered into between
the operators association and the Unit
ed Mine Workers. The Woodward Com
pany is not member of the association.
Most of the mines in Walker county
being .unorganized' are putting out coal.
AS comparatively little work is done the
first week in July the output is light, but
beginning with next week 1t is expected
that normal conditions will obtain and
that coal will move freely.