The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-04-07

tnere IS available for distribution ample
coal to supply all actual needs now
and for several months to come. The
companies have agreed upon sales
policy at prices which have obtained
during the winter. and are determined
to- prevent speculation, as there is no
justification for an advance in retail
prices"
Retailers Not Satisfied.
This arrangement is said to be un-
satisfactory to the retailers and today
at meeting of the Philadelphia Coal
Exchange, committee was appointed
to confer with the big companies.
The coal exchange issued state
ment in which it Is declared that If the
mining companies supply the dealers
with sufficient coal for their needs,
they will deliver to the consumer at
the regular March retail prices.
P1TTsBURG, April s.-with the ex-
ception of one or two points outside
of the Pittsburg district, the situation
between the operators and miners in
the soft coal fields of western Penn
sylvania is hourly growing more pa
cifc. The mines of the operators who
signed the scale resumed operations
today, although in many instances with
reduced forces.
In the Pittsburg district $4,000 min
ers were working and $4,000 were idle.
Nearly all of the mines Of the Pitts
burg Coal company were in operation
and it was expected that other men
who are out will return within a day
or so. 1t was explained that following
the holidays it was generally several
days before all the men returned to
their labor. The cause of idleness Of
the men was also explained to be due
to the fact that the circular letter an
nouncing what operators had signed
the scale was not sent out until today.
The Independent operators, who
met last night and decided not to sign,
held another meeting tonight These
operators employ between $4,000 and
$4,000 men, all Of whom were idle to-
day.
There were representatives of 20
operators present, representing an an
nual output of 20000.000 tons.
Will suspend Operators.
The following official statement was
given out:
AT meeting Of the independent
operators held tonight the position
taken at the previous meeting was re-
affirmed and no action was taken to-
ward the acceptance of the 1903 scale.
The probable outcome Of these meet
ings will be the formation of an in
dependent coal operators association
of western Pennsylvania. Those pres
emit were absolutely unanimous against
signing the 1903 SCALE"
1t is announced that the indepen-
dents would not work their mines non
union, which means an entire suspen-
sion of operations. 1t was learned to-
night that the entire non-union field
of the Allegheny valley would con-
tinue work without Interruption. This
q {" q IN fh4 ~
vein.
Interest in the Pittsburg district was
diverted to the district convention in
this city and the attempt of Patrick
Dolan to regain control. The report OF
the tellers was not announced with
certainty because Of dispute as to
some of the voting envelopes.
1t was semi-officially stated, how
ever, that Frank Fehan was elected
side over the convention. The dele
gates clamored that he be forcibly
thrown from the hall. A committee of
three was appointed to carry out
resolution to this effect and as til, COM
mittee approached Dolan, he left 1t
Is expected that Dolan will appeal to
the courts tomorrow to adjudge the
delegates in contempt of court.
From other districts it is announced
that few mines are operating with full
forces, the same conditions prevailing
as in the Pittsburg district. At Irwin,
the nearest to an actual strike prevails.
There the men are being, urged to
stand fast and are told that the opera
tors will eventually concede the de-
mands. At a delegates convention to-
day a committee fixed a scale which
calls for an advance of five cents more
than the scale of 1908, for pick mining
and the operators were invited to a
conference on April -.
In the Johnstown district work is at
a standstill. No trouble has occurred
at the Berwind- White works, where
armed guards are on duty. It is re-
ported tonight that the company is
bringing in nOn-union men and evict-
ing union miners from company houses.
COLUMBUS, O., April 3-The execu-
tive board of the Ohio Mine Workers
organization today decided to permit
the miners to sign contracts with any
operators who are willing to pay the
1903 scale. The IS sub district organi-
cations will prepare such agreements
and hold meetings to present them to
the operators The first will be held
Friday at Athens and will include the
miners Of the Hooking valley. The
operators Of the valley will meet Mon
day and joint conference will follow
The position which the operators take
in that conference will have much to do
| with determining the action of the
operators in the other Ohio districts.
AS there are great quantities Of coal
stored and there is no pressing neces-
sity for the operations of many Of the
mines, there will be no rush in making
the ub-district settlements. All con-
tracts must be submitted to the state
executive board of the mine workers
before being signed and it may be 80
days before all contracts are ready.
DIES MONIES, April ga rupture in
the joint conference Of the United Mine
Workers and the operators of the Iowa
division was narrowly averted here to-
day In a clash over the pay of the men
| on service at the mines during the
shut down. The miners insisted that
the emergency men should be taken
out tonight If the operators would mol
consent to pay the 1903 scale. The
operators refused. In the heat of dis
cussion, President White, Of the mine
workers. announced that the emergency
mon should remain in the mines during