Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-31
OPERATORS LETTER TO PRESIDENT READ
Document is Placed on File with
Secretary After some of Its
Statements Have Been
Explained.


! INDIANAPOLIS, March 3O.-The national
convention Of the United Mine Workers OF
America adjourned sine die today. after
authorizing the national and district officers
to sign a wage agreement with any coal
| operator who would agree to pay the scale
Of 1903 or its equivalent for period OF two
years This is an advance Of SIS per cent
in wages In illinois, Indiana, Ohio and
western Pennsylvania and all other dis
/ tricts except the southwest, composed of
/ Missouri. Kansas, Texas, Arkansas and
| Indian Territory where an advance OF 3
cents per ton is demanded, as the 1908 scale
! is practically in force in that district. The
! convention declined an offer made by the
| operators OF illinois, Indiana and Ohio To
| submit the wage difference 70 arbitration.
! Where coal operator owns mines in DIFF
! ferent districts the scale must be signed
for all the properties at the same time
before any will be allowed to run
The action of the convention will bring
out Of the mines of the country tomorrow
night 5O9,5OO men in the anthracite and
! bituminous fields These will remain on
strike until settlements have been signed by.
/ OF WIN lnulNluudl Inc
only miners at work Monday will be 5000
men in the New River. Pocahontas. Fair
mont and central fields Of West Virginia.
where an agreement was made several days,
ago to allow the men to continue at work
( until the district convention now in session
at Charleston has reached disagreement
with the operators.
state Conventions This Week.
] - he otff-
lying districts, to be held next week, or
now in session, at Charleston, w. Va
Louisville. KY, Des Moines. Ia, Saginaw.
Mich, and Clearheld. in central Pennsyl-
vania. were empowered under the action
OF the convention today TO sign agree
ments with the operators of those states
/ II they agree to pay the 1905 scale.
| The men will return TO work as soon as
| the scale Is signed. II there Is disagree
| ment in these joint state conventions any
OF the miners can Sign the scale and resume
work where Individual operators pay the
advanced scale.
1t is anticipated that the scale will be
signed IN a few days by employers OF 7b,-
90 miners. The Pittsburg Coal company
and f.. l.. Robbins OF western Pennsylva-
MA, who also own mines In Ohio, Illinois
and West Virginia, will, IL is expected,
independent operators. The miners expect
TO get the advance soon in all the IndiA9A
mines south of the Baltimore q Ohio rail-
road in a number of central Indiana mines,
In one-half OF the Illinois mines and in
la large percentage of the mines OF Ohio.
The duration of the strike in Michigan.
Kentucky. central Pennsylvania, Iowa and
West Virginia can be better determined
when the conventions meet, when expires
sions from the operators as TO their in
tentions will be made, President Mitchell
said today he believed one-half of the ton
mage of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and western
Pennsylvania would sign very soon and
a large number Of the independents hav-
ing an annual output OF 100000 tons, who
protested here against the advance. but
who would pay the advance demanded
and their men would resume work.
The miners expect very few operators
in the southwest will sign at once.
Tho joint conference of this district ad-
journed today after dsagreeing and after
the miners had unanimously declined TO
submit the differences TO a commission
to be appointed by President Roosevelt
National Board Meets To-day.
The national executive board will meet
tomorrow morning to take up the details
OF managing the strike. Il was empow-
cred to decide as to what employees will
be allowed TO continue work as the mines
TO prevent the destruction of the property
= during the suspension. There is In the
national. district and local treasures OF
the miners Sa,5OO,OOO. OF which $4,000 is
In the national treasury.
President Mitchell expects to leave sun
day for New York to meet IN joint con-
ference with the anthracite operators.
The convention today failed to expel
Patrick Doian and Uriah Bellingham. the
Pittsburg district oficers from the organ
ization by vote Of $50 votes TO 35s. The
controversy was referred back to the
Pittsburg district.
President Mitchell had absolute control
Of the convention throughout It's sessions
and every act desired by him was done.
He sigEihed today that II the convention
did not adopt the resolution permitting
the miners 20 sign wherever the advance
scale was paid he would resign. The vote
was unanimous although Vice President
Lewis took a vigorous position against Il.
Miners Convention at work.
President Mitchell in calling the national
convention OF the United Mine Workers OF
America to order today said:
Gentlemen the purpose IN asking for
sepaYate convention OF the miners is to
pursue. The secretary has a copy of =
communication addressed to the president
OF the United states by a part Of the
operators OF three districts. and / think IL
wen that u now be submitted for your
Information.
Secretary w. B. Wilson read the resO-
luton adopted last night by operators Of H.
linois. Indiana. Ohio ana western Pennsy-
lvania, asking the president OF the United
States TO appoint a committee 20 investigate
mining conditions
Delegate Williams Of Illinois asked whst
assurance the miners had that the oper
= ators represented 50 per cent Of the tonnage.
President Mitchell replied that after reading
tho resolution Of the operators. be had
sent a telegram 20 the presid, Il telling
him that 80 per cent Of the tonnasv Ia tna
states mentioned IN the resolution wcfo
willing 10 pay the advance asked.
W. d. Ryan OF Illinois moved that "ths