The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-07-01
ILLINOIS MINES
TO Be CLOSED.
Operators Decide to Shut Down
Until New Agreement Is
Made.
DECLARE CONTRACTS ARE VOID
Employers Insist That the Men Must
Stand the Expense Incurred Under
the shot-frers Law Passed by the
Last Legislature.

Springfield. H., June 21.- Practical
ly every coal mine in the state OF llli-
nols-in which 10000 men are en-
ploycd-will shut down June 30 10 re-
main closed until the United Mine
workers OF Illinois make a new con
tract with the Illinois Coal Operators
association
This decision was arrived at In the
conference OF the operators associa.
ton at which % per cent Of tho mem
bers were either present in person
or By proxy, anu over so per cent OF
the independent operators OF Illinois
also were In attendance The conclu
sion was arrived at unanimously.
Tho united minoworkors probably
will be called into convention In this
city early in July. The executive
board OF the miners organization will
convene here June "a 90 consider such
plans as may seem advisable. No
compromise proposition was advanced
to the miners by the operators and all
the contracts with the miners are con
sidcred ahrogatcd
operators BREAK contracts.
The action taken by the operators
In declaring all contracts ahrogated
by The miners is followed by declara-
tons from the officials OF the latter
that the call Tor a new contract VIII
be followed by insistcnce ON moro lib
eral terms than We're granted in tho
present agreements.
The operators. on the other hand
viii not only insist on reimbursement
for the additional expense cutailed by
the operation OF tho new law, but Will
demand a radical change in tho pres.
ent scale They viii insist on wage
agreement with screen instead OF
mine run basis This contention, IL is
said VIII place tho mines OF Illinois
on a fair competitive standing with In
diana and other states where tho
screen basis exists
Willing TO Negotiate.
The operators i'm the resolutions
drafted state that they arc prepared
10 negotiate with The miners a new
scale based on the provisions Of the
hot drers law This provision pro-
yoked the only discussion in the con.
yentlOn Commissioner Herman Justi
Of tho Illinois Operators association
declared that the probabilities Of a
joint conference with the miners for
tho purpose OF considering u now
scale were at present not strong
President IT c. Perry of the united
mine workers, after the announcement
of tho decision of the operators was
received, Expressed himself as in no-
wise disturbed over the action OF that
body
Miners VIII Hold Convention.
81 will not discuss the matter" he
said. There VIII bc q meeting q. our
executive board june "a, az which We
will prepare some plan for the future.
II is more than likely that a conycn.
ton with representation from each
local II the statc Will be called III a
few weeks but WHOM cannot say
now Personally / cannot see where
tho contention Is made that wo#hayo
violated uur contracts am Willing
to submit our agreement TO an arbl
/ tration committee composed OF any
lawyers On the state. I am satisfied
they viii find no violation OF single
clause 81 the contract ats result oi
The shot 6rcra law.
The treasury Of the united mine
workers at present contains approx
mately 100000. The officials of tho
miners organization cannot touch this
under present conditions without tho
sanction OF the different locals of the
state, either by a referendum vote Oh
/ by action in convention
MANHATTAN RoBBER is DYING