Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-01
Men viii Resume Work as Fast as Int-
vidual Settlements Are Made.
SOUTHWESTERN OPERATORS IN SESSION
Telegram Sent to President Asking Him 10
Name Arbitration Board,
IOWA OPERATORS WILL SIGN TUESDAY
Western Kentucky signed Yesterday
and PittsburR, Parts of indiana
aud Illinois win sign in
Few Days.


INDIANAPOLIS. March u.--No general
strike order was issued by the national
executive board of the United Mine Work
ers as a result of the all-day meeting OF
that body here today Tho meeting was
hqld for the purpose of completing arrange
ments to carry out the policy committed 20
tho board during the national convention
of the miners which closed Friday after
noon. This was made effective by authoriS-
ing the district aud sub-district officers 20
sign contracts wherever the operators
signify Yhelr willingness to pay the 1903
scale, which provides for an increase OF
sos per cent on wages
The district officers and board members
have notified the local unions that the
miners may cease work at the expiration
of tho present wage scale at midnight and
remain out until ordered back to work
under a new contract.
One of the acts uf the board was to au-
thori7e the sending Of telegram to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, notifying him OF the de-
cisioi TO make individual contracts with
operators willing 20 grant the demands
of the miners. The telegram as forwarded
by President John Mitchell simply an
nounces the adoption by the miners con-
vention of the Perry resolution which is
quoted verbatim.
Iowa VIII Sign Tuesday.
II was reported unoihcially at the ma
tioral headquarters of the miners today
that operators representing the total ton
mage of Iowa have signihed their willing
ness to sign the 1908 scale on Tuesday
The signing Of contracts by the operators
in weNtern Kentucky is accepted by the
miners officials as an indication of what
may be expected elsewhere. Application
was received at the national headquarters
of the United Mine Workers today for the
signing of all the miners in that territory
and the authority was transmitted at once
by telegraph The 5000 miners In this region
viii continue at work
Bennett Brown, representing several large
mines in southern Illinois. made personal
application to President John Mitchell to-
day TO be allowed TO sign the new contract
he was told that the papers would be il
readiness for him on his arrival at Spring
field and that the district officers there have
power TO act in the matter and order the
men back to work.
II was said also at national headquarters
that all the mines In Indiana south of the
Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad
have made application to be allowed to
mines are not members of the Operators
association in the central competitive field.
President John Mitchell refused to dis
cuss the outlook today. He will leave
Indianapolis tomorrow afternoon and will
/ be in New York In time TO meet the miners
members OF the committee before the sub
committee meets Tuesday morning. secre-
tary-Treasurer w. B. Wilson and the east
ern members of the national board Will
leave for Pennsylvania tomorrow, where
they will have charge OF signing up con-
! tracts in the Irwin region.
Vice President Tom L. Lewis went TO
| Columbus, o., tonight. He will assist the
Ohio district officials In preparing their
contracts for the mines Of the Pittsburg
Coal company and its consolidated inter-
ests in that state.
Operators Ask for Arbitration.
The executive committee of the operators
OF the southwestern district today sent the
following telegram to President Roosevelt:
INDIANAPOLIS. March 81. 19O6.--,To the
! President: Coal operators representing
more than 95 per cent of the output OF coal
! in the territory named, this afternoon re-
ported the resolution in the joint conven-
| tion:
The operators in the southwestern inter.
| state coal operators, embracing Missouri
Kansas, Arkansas. Texas and Indian Terri
caused by the failure OF themselves and the
/ miners TO agree on wage scale. and con-
ditions OF labor in that field now propose
to submit all questions at issue to arbitra.
tion before commission TO be appointed
by the president OF the United States. the
award Of said commission 70 be binding on
The miners voted against the resolution
but Notwithstanding their action, the opera,
tors are atin anxious that the differences
between them and the miners be adjusted
as suggested in the resolution.
W. G. PERRY.
President Southwestern
Coal Operators Assn.
It Is announced by the district and board
members that the miners viii avail them
selves OF the opportunity 20 remedy many
local grievances in making the separats
contracts. They viii also not enter into
a contract with an operator unless be
sides meeting all OF the scale contract re
quirements. he promises 10 attend and
participate IN the next Interstate movement
conference when II Is called. The miners
are thus to make strenuous efforts TO pre-
serve competitive district lines through tn,
Interstate relations between themselves and
the operators.
Mr.. Robbins Ready 10 Sign.
PITTSBURG, March 31.-Following a tur
bulent all day session the PittsburB dis
trict miners convention adjourned thi
evening 70 meet again on Monday afte
appointing a new wage committee OF fou
with full authority TO sign up all operator
who are willing 70 pay the 1903 scale.
The committee will meet ChalrmaI
Francis I. Robbins OF the Pittsburg Goa
company by appointment on Monday. whei
Mr.. Robbins viii sign the scale for tw,
years
This action means that there viii be NJ
strike in the Pittsburg district so far a
the miners employed by the Pittsburg Goa
: company are concerned. While the mine
viii be closed Monday, which day is Sc
aside in oommemoration OF the eight-hou
work day all the works OF this compan,
win resume operations on Tuesday. Il /
believed that a majority Of the Independent
operators will eventually sign the isO
: scale. but not until after their meeting
which is scheduled for the latter part 0
next week.
All kansas Mines Cl0se.
PITTBBURG. KAN Mach N-Au n.