Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-02
COAL STRIKE
NOW IN FORCE
Half a Million Mine Workers in
IdIeness.
UP TO OPERATORS ACTION
President Mitchell to Reach New York
Tonight.
THE CONFERENCE TOMORROW
Prompt Procedure on Part of Mine
Operators is Expected-Reports
From Many States.
THE CONFERENCE TOMORROW

Pending the outcome of the con-
ference in New York city tomor.
row between the coal presidents
and President John Mitchell of the
Miners Union, the suspension Of
mining in the anthracite coal fields
IS practically complete.
OF the 100000 men and boys in
the hard coal fields who are af-
tected by the scale committee's
suspension, less than 1000 are at
work. Of this number about 900
are employed at the Oxford col
iiery, an individual operation near
Scranton, and probably 500 addi-
tional men are rushing work at the
several washeries in the Lacka-
wanna and Wyoming districts.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, April 2.-Although
half a million members of the United Mine
Workers of America ceased work today.
awaiting the granting of their wage de-
mands, there is nothing at the national
heaOluart~rs OF The union here TO indicate
that anything unusual has happened. All
OF the ofhciaIs are out of the city and a
rorps Of clerks and stenographers is in
tharge of the offices. President John Mitch
ell is in New York TO meet the anthracite
operators tomorrow in final attempt to
arrive at an agreement in the anthracite
region. Vice President Lewis is in Ohio
directing the strike in that state. Secre-
tary-treasurer Wilson is at Clearheld, Pa.
attending the joint conference of the Cen
trail Pennsylvania district.
The feeling at national miners headquar-
tiers concerning the situation in the btu
minous fields is sanguine. 1t is known that
in the western Pennsylvania district, F. L.
Robbins president of the Pittsburg Coal
Company, viii at once sign the scale, not
only for the companys mines, but for his
own as well. 1t is expected the independent
operators who will meet tomorrow will
agree TO sign the scale to protect their
markets.
Situation in Many Fields.
In West Virginia and Iowa the district
Joint conventions between the operators and
miners are in session at Charleston and
Des Moines and It is hoped at national
headquarters that the operators will meet
the demand for an advance. The Michigan
miners and operators Will meet tomorrow
at Saginaw. The central Pennsylvania
meeting will be held tomorrow at Clear
field. and the Kentucky meeting al LOUIS
Vile tomorrow.
In the central competitive Illinois. In
diana. Ohio and western Pennsylvania the
miners ar2 celebrating today the anniver-
sary of the eight hour day.
The miners IN all the districts have quit
work awaiting the signing of the scale de-
mauded. IL is anticipated that few oper-
It0rs in the southwestern district, COM
posed of Missouri. Kansas Arkansas,
Texas, Indian Territory and Oklahoma,
will grant the scale for the present and a
prolonged strike may follow. In Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois the same condition is
anticipated.
Wellington O'ConnOr, president of the In
diana miners organization, announced today
that with two exceptions all the operators
In Indiana south OF the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad and several in the central part of
the state have slgnitied their willingness
TO sign the scale.
The Indiana miners executive board went
into session at Terre Haute. President
WClltgtOn O'Connor will go tomorrow to
Evansville to sign with operators there
Chairman Kolsen of The Indiana operators
said today that not over . per cent of the
tonnage in Indiana would sign the scale
All the mines in Indiana are closed today
except one or two very small wagon mines
that supply local trade. There has been no
trouble.
Mitchell's Statement
Before stepping on the train for New
York last nigh, President Mitchell of the
mine workers said:
anthracite miners viii stay ont until we
have an understanding with the operators
Tomorrow the eight-hoUr day viii be ceIe-
hrated. Strike conditions viii prevail Tues
day over practically all of Ohio, Central
Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois Missouri
Michigan. Arkansas, Tennessee. Kansas. In
0l0n Ierrtcry. Texas and IN the anthracite
fields. The mines in West Virginia will be
operated a few days, pending the result OF
the district joint conference IN Charleston.
T. l.. Robbins and western PENNSYLVANIA
independents VIII read0pt the 1903 scale
Monday by signing a contract Western
Kentucky operators have signed Iowa op-
orators have accepted the terms MANY in
dependent operators in Indiana and Illinois
have notified our district officers that they
are ready to sign The advance has been
posted IN the irwin Held, in western Penn
sylv3nla, and the big Berwindhite Com
pauy I'm central Pennsylvania has posted
the advance. Fifty percent of the tonnage
is ready TO sign up.
Will Reach New York Tonight.
President Michel Will arrive In New York
at $3.50 this evening, He viii hold a meet
Ing with his anthracite scale committeeman
at the Ashland House tonight Tomorrow.
backed by the subscale committee, he will
meet the operators.
The conference with the operators has
been set for 10 o'clock am, President
Mitchell would not last night say what he
thought the prospects were. but he evident
ly expected quick action, as he said that
he would be back TO indianapolis a week
from today to attend a meeting OF the in
ternational executive board.
AT this meeting the board will take up
the matter of levying an assessment on the
men whose operators sign contracts and
who are thus put to work. The board could
not levy the assessment at its meeting Sat
urday because 1t could NOT ascertain what
percentage would be idle for considerable
length of time.
Joint Conference in Iowa.
DIES MONIES, Iowa, April 2.-The foiat