The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-03
MINERS PREPARE
FOR GREAT STRIKE
Disruption of Joint Agreement
Seems Now Practically
Certain.
REJECT OPERATORS
COUNTER PROPOSAL
Convention at Once Sets About
to Prepare Mammoth
Strike Fund.

INDlANAPOLIS. Feb. 2-The rejection
Of tho counter proposition offered by the
coal operators of the central competitive
district by an almost unanimous vote OF
the National convention of the United
Mine Workers Rnd the adoption of a reso-
lution offered by Secretary W. d. Ryan
of Illinois. placing the miners on record
IS unit in refusing to sign an agree
ment for any district until an agreement
was signed for all districts under tho
jurisdiction OF the United Mine Workers,
has created a situation which in the opin-
Ion Of the officials OF the miners organi-
zation. viii result In n disruption of the
Joint agreement and probably one of the
greatest strikes OF organized labor the
country has ever known,
Predict Greatest Strike.
The action took place during called
session of the miners. which was called
to order Immediately following a short
session of the Joint conference OF opera
tors and miners. during which the Joint
scale committee reported that 1T had been
unable to reach an agreement on any OF
the principal questions involved and after
f. l.. Robbins OF PittSburg floor leader of
the operators. had replied to President
MltchelIS question that the operators had
no further proposition to Law before the
miners, concluding his remarks with the
statement that II there was to be an in
terruptlon OF the Joint agreement he
wished the responsibility for such a sew
erance OF relations 10 be placed upon the
miners.
Counter Proposition.
The counter proposition submitted by
the operators, which WAS said TO be their
ultima tum, provided for the signing for
with certain notifications to reimburse
the Illinois operators for expenses in
CURED under the Shot hrers" bill now
effective In that State.
Strike Fund of Millions.
Immediately following the rejection OF
the operators proposal, the convention
set about to provide means for accumu-
latng strike fund OF So O0O, 90 In addi-
ton to u like amount now on deposit In
the international district and sub-district
treasures OF the Miners organizations.
Provide for Emergency.
To provide for an emergency, Secretary
Wilson moved that n per capita tax OF 81 q
week be voted and that all districts take
care OF the dependent miners within their
jurisdiction for at least six weeks. He
said after that time he believed the In
ternational organization would be In a
position TO take care OF the miners.
Referred to Board.
After tho motion had been amended to
substitute ten weeks for six as the time
during which the districts should care for
their dependents. the matter was referred
to the international executive board. With
power to act
Final Faint Hope.
Delegates who chose to do so left for
their homes tonight Othors remained for
the final session of the joint conference
In the morning. This Will be for the
formal adjournment OF the interstate
conference. the recess OF this afternoon
having been taken TO allow the miners
convention TO ratify or reject the report
OF the scale committee
In this last meeting lies the only hope
II hope can exist. for settlement of the
dispute.