The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-03
BIGGEST STRIKE.
Disagreement Between Onion
Coal Miners and the Operators.
Is Likely to Tie Up Mines of the
Entire Country.
WILL LAY DOWN PICKS
April l Unless Some Arrange
ment Be Reached Earlier.
100000 Men Backed by a Fund
of So, 100000.
WILL LAY DOWN PICKS

Indianapolis, Feb. s.-One Of the
most dramatic scenes ever witnessed in
a national convention of the United
Mine Workers of America was the final
adjournment of that body after the
dissolution of the joint conference OF
operators and miners Of the central
and southwestern districts and after
the national convention had admins
tered a singing rebuke to one Of the
Oldest officers of the organization for
| transgressing one of the fundamental
laws of unionism, in voting contrary
to his Instructions to stand for an in
crease Of wages. When the lusty
voices of the miners mingled in the
/ singing of America had hushed an
oppressive silence fell upon the assem-
4 bIed delegates, and as President John
Mitchell slowly pronounced the words
which adjourned the seventeenth an
nual convention without day, thus dis
/ solving every hope of averting a gigan-
/ tic industrial war without the iuterven-
ton of some unexpected and powerful
/ influence, the miners marched out OF
the hall their faces set with a grim
determination which showed the stead
fastness of purpose which has marked
this session just closed. Apparent de-
termination of both operators and
miners indicates that neither viii make
! overtures for further negotiations and
/ unless some influence not now foFeseen
steps into the breech $50, 600 men con-
IrolIed by the United Mine Workers
kWill walk out Of the mines in every Sec
ton of the country on April I.
There have been intimations that
1.-TWO agencies-the president of the
United States and the National Civic
federal ion-may be appealed to to set
in motion negotiations looking to a re-
Mobilization Of the joint state agree
ment, or at least discussion Of means
of bringing the president and miners
together for further negotiations
So far as known, however, there is
nothing upon which to base an asser-
ton that either the president or the
civic federation have decided to offer
their services
A Significant Statement.
Perhaps the most significant state
ment made by President Mitchell dur
ing any session of the convention was
made first in his admOnition to all the
miners that they make preparation to
establish a strike fund which Will
make each miner self sustaining for at
at least a reasonable time and again
when, in answer to the question OF q
delegate who wished to be enlightened
as to the correct sense of the resolu-
ton adopted he saids
THE resolution adopted is capable
of no two interpretations, and at
the proper time all such questions
shall be answered.
Durfng=an interview President John
Mitchell discussed some of the phases
of the situation.
Never in the history of the coun-
try has a strike of such far reaching
effect been threatened" said Mr..
Mitchell. 1T means a national sus-
pension of mining if the strike comes
on at the expiration of our mining con-
tracts, March 81, and 1t includes the
anthracite district"
According to the figures given out
by the national officers of the miners
organization they expect the strike TO
bring out over 100000 Inen-about
$50. 600 nonunion miners in West Nir-
ginia and Pennsylvania with the 45d,-
600 union miners
states Affected.
OF this nuraheRzabout 10000 will
be out In the anthracite districts, So
600 in ehn syl vania bituminua
districts. IS sa89 iH8OhJo, 1000 in In
diana $4,000 In Illinois, $4,000 in
Iowa, 30.00es IN West Virginia 5000
in Michigan and go, 900 in Kansas.
1 Missouri, Texas, Indian territory and
Arkansas.
scene Of the greatest part of the battle.
Mr.. Mitchell said never in the history OF
this country was there an organization
that could call out so many men having
such wide spread effect. Il have said,
he declared, that the responsibility OF
/ bringing on such a strike was grave
responsibility for any people " e nave
been slow to assume any such RESPONSE
bility and the responsibility rests, as any
/ one can see, on the operators The pros
porous condition of the country war
rants an Increase for the miners. We
accepted a decrease by our own votes
two years ago when at the time we were
i convinced that the conditions of the
country demanded it. We have ever
been ready to stand right, and We stand
right now"
Il When questioned about the cost. Of
the anthracite strike he said that it's
cost had been estimated by the an
thracite strike committee to be
loss of $25. 100000 of wages to the miners,
$50 100000 of profits to the operators,
S26. 600, 900 loss in freight rates.
There were other items of loss that
raised the total figures much over Sl00.-
600, 600 for the strike It lasted little
over &c weeks"
President 8Iitcheli estimated that four
people are dependent on every miner.
on this estimate a national strike such
as is planned will affect over 2,000,OO0
people dependent upon the mining indus
try for their daily breadr
The dollar assessment proposed would
Il raise approxin7a teig s. SOC, 000 national
treasury funds by April /. This organl-
cation now has IN cash in its national
. district. sub-distfict ard local treasury
S. 675 13442. The two funds on April
will probably place $5s000s000 cash avail
, able for strike purposes.
G. A. r. Reunion February II.