The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-11-02
Decide on Increase Should Strike
Be Prolonged Even a Few
Days.
MORE MINERS OUT TO-DAY.
Mine Workers Have No Griev-
ance on Wage Scale, but May
Strike if Nonunion Engi-
neers Are Employed.

| strike yesterday against a reduction in
wages, the coal-mining industry in Illi-
nois, which annually produces $4,000. .OOO
| tons Of bituminous coal. practically came
to a standstill.
Already advices come from Ptttsburg
| that the coal trust has decided to raise
prices If the suspension in Illinois is main
tanned for even a short time.
A Few mines in the State are in opera
ton, but the output Of these would not
go far toward supplying even domestic
needs. The big mines are operated by
members Of the Illinois Coal Operators
Association.
There are 250 Of these big mines. and
mere Is where the engineers have quit
work
Forty thousand miners were out Of work
to-day and this number probably will be
increased several thousand tomorrow
1t Is fight between the engineers and
operators. the coal diggers and surface
workers. aside from the hoisting en-
sineers. not being involved, except as VIC
tins of the tie-up.
II the operators attempt to put nom
union engineers to work the United Mine
workers organization may object and
strike. but it is not believed the difficulty
VIII come to that pass. The miners are
gwen their own approval and they have
no grievances.
NO CHANGE AT SPRINGFIELD.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Springfield. ILL.,. Nov. There were no
developments locally to-day in the mining
situation. All of the mines in this dis
tr1ct, with the exception of those which
signed the engineers scale last night,
were idle. and there were no additions to
the list of signers
Tomorrow the directors of the Tuxhorn
Nine. which is not a member of the
Operators Association, will meet for the
purpose Of determining whether they will
district and pay the scale. The remain
ing independents show a disposition to
resist with the organization men.
Ihere was rumor tonight of a meet
from Chicago that no such meeting has
been called. The officials of the United
Mine Workers have taken no action con-
tterning ttani the , strike, and show no inclina-
derstood that the miners organization has
in Its ranks sufficient number Of en-
gineers to man majority of the mines,
put It Is not likely that they will take
the places Of the strikers.
HOPE TO END STRIKE SOON.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Edwardsvilse. Ill. Nov. 1.-None Of the
association mines in this vicinity worked
a man to-day on account of the engineers
did a greatly increased business The as
ISOLATION mines, however, expect to start
inside OF a short time because Of the
nature OF their agreement with the Unit
ed Mine Workers of America.
The engineers strike has brought on a
peculiar situation. The hoisting engineers
were requested by the Federation Of La
aae WtS e ned he Mns 69y and
America But. while their connection with
the Federation was severed. the engineers
have refused to Join in with the miners
and remain an Independent body.
The operators expect to secure the serv-
ices of licensed engineers and reopen
the mines. The miners union could not
refuse to work on the ground Of the en-
gineers' strike. and any action on their
part would have to be taken by the MEM
bers as individuals. not as body, as their
agreement with the operators contains no
such provisions.
WILL AFFECT BUSINESS.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
Harrisburg. ILL.,. Nov. las a result Of
the hoisting engineers strike. every mine
In Saline County numbering about fifteen,
down to-day. and will probably remain SO
Is settled.
BY this shutdown 1900 miners are thrown
out of employment.
Its effect on business will be felt to a
considerable extent Very little coal has
been bought by local consumers. and II
the strike should continue for any length
OF time 1t will result In much suffering.
SETTLEMENT EXPECTED SOON.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Marion. ILL.,. Nov. 1.-The hoisting en-
gineers declared a strike to-day. The Car
terville district. which is outside the
Operators Association, is working one
seventeenth of Marion district.
settlement is looked for in ten DAYS
Three thousand men are affected. Motor
men and conductors agree, but enginemen
and swftchmen on coal belt railway re-
fuse. 1t is expected that the cars will he
started Wednesday.
SUPERINTENDENT HOSTS COAL.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Odin, ILL.,. Nov. 1.-The hoisting engineers
went on strike here last midnight. The
superintendent of the odin Coal Company
Is hoisting engineer and he Is hoistjne
coal to-day
The miners do not want to stop work
and claim the strike will be of short dura
tion. They say 1t will be victory for the
engineers, as there are not enough licensed
nonunion engineers to I'LL the vacancies.