The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-01-18
MINERS ASK TOR
RAISE IN WAGES
DELEGATES TO INDIANAPOLIS
CONVENTION FIRM IN DE.
MAND FOR INCREASE.
MITCHELL WITH THEM
Four combative Bituminous States
Came Instructed to Insist Upon
Raise Making Situation
Look squaiIy.

i Indianapolis, Ind, Jan H. The bf.
/ luminous coal miners VIII demand an
increase in wages and unless It IS
paid strike will follow. President
Mitchell, In his report today corrobo-
rated this. The delegates from the
1 four combative states came here with
instruction % insist upon an increase.
/ The other states that make scales
based on the interstate agreement also
demand more money.
While the situation in the soft coal
! field is favorable to a strike, the an.
thracite miners are hopeful OF set
Element The fact that the members
of the coal trust will confer with the
miners only became known tonight.
Divine Right" Baer and his asso-
ciates have intimated TO President
| Roosevelt that they would meet
committee headed by President Min,
chell. This fact, however, Is no Sign
they will make an agreement,
Situation Is Critical
The object of the coal trust opera
tors is to avert any action by the con
lventlon The soft coal situation how
ever Is critical. No matter how much
| influence Is used the miners are de-
termined TO secure an increase in
wages. AS President Mitchell has in.
dorsed this proposition, It follows. ac
cording to the delegates, that there
will be an increase or strike. In his
report President Mitchell does not
beg the question; he said.
II recognize the fact that there Ia
| little sentiment and no philanthropy In
tho determination Of our general wage
agreements; however. II appears to
ne that inasmuch as we gave relief
70 our employers by accepting lower
ate Of wages Al a time when there
vas little demand for coal and when
lrices We're falling bsiow q profitable
margin, they should nog raciprOcate
md voluntarily share with us their
resent and prospective prosperity"
| II President Mitchell had advised
conservatism there would have been
rouhle, There Is not a delegate from
The soft coal regions who Il not clam
oring for a raise In wages. They are
SO determined that when the hard coal
question comes up there Will be a dc.
mand that II be thrashed out on the
floor of the convention. Heretofore
he anthracite delegate have met
alone and adopted resolutions salts
actOry TO themselves The soft coal
nen have indOrset them without com
uent But this convention viii demand
hat all questions affecting the anthSa-
. &c miners be lett 20 all the dele
rates. The soft coal miners will de.
nand this. There is >eli established
report that the oft coal men will pay
IN advance in wages If the anthracite
men are ordered 70 strike II Is also
veil established among the delegates
that the coal trust in IT'S willingness
to meet the miners committee Is
merely trying 10 avert trouble
insurgents" Are Firm.
This will create the greatest debate
Of the convention. While President
Mitchell and the other officials have
rsmained silent on the anthracite
question. there Is quite an element
hat viii demand vigorous action.
There Is a big insurgent element in
he convention. One OF them 10 speak
ng Of the probable action OF the con.
vention said.
President Mitchell nor any other
official, can't stop as from demanding
more wages No power on earth can.
We are here 10 get what we lost two
years ago, and We viii get IT,
4 suggestive remark was made by
Pres ident Mitchell 20 acknowledging
he welcome address of Governor
Hanly
Labor IS no longer on its knees"
Pc said ~ now sfsu erect. not de-
FAINT but conscious Of its just rights
Ohio and Illinois viii lead the fight
fer more wages PrsefienI Green. the
new Ohio president was elected
against the wish Of President Mitchell.
AZ least former President Haskins so
states During the recent campaign
for Offices OF the ono miners Haskins
sent our a letter stating that he had
concluded 20 De a candidate ar the
-olicitatiou of President Mitchell His
Iefeat is said to prove that the Ohio
miners viii not accept any peace
Terms proposed by President Mitchell
and that they viii fight 70 lhs end for
more wages and a reduction in the
lifcrert al between pick and machine
nining The argument 90 BE- advanced
iy The soft coal men on the propcsi-
ion TO settle the anthracite question
r open convention Is tAat 20 DO o'he-
giee would be nnfair II fhe anthracite
men strike BE- world throw the ~
possibility on the Off coal men a.
h-v would have ta pas ne expenses. =
ACC riding to DE report of Secretary
Treasurer Wilson. the Heea nis ~ IRE
United Nine Worker of Anerca our
be- expenditures Sl024c7e
ng the past year were ssi0.2el ani