The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-02-08
NATIONAL STRIKE NEAR
COAL MINERS FAIL TO MAKE
TERMS WITH OPERATORS.
More Than Half-Mllion Men to
Quit Work in Anthracite and Btu
minous Regions on March 81, IN
less Compromise is Effected.

Indianapolis, Ind, Feb. 2.-Durine
an interview this afternoon President
John Mitchell discussed some of the
| phases of the strike situation
Never in the history of this coun-
try has strike of such far reaching
effect been threatened said Mr..
Mitchell. 1T means a national sls-
pension of mining if the strike comes
on at the expiration of our mining
contracts, March 81, and it includes
| the anthracite districts"
Anthracite Situation
'Will this action Of the miners, in
Guiding the anthracite districts, in or
der that no contracts shall be signed
| until all obtain agreements, have any
effect on the meeting of the anthracite
| miners and operators ON February
| 15?"
Il don't know at this time" he said
"Will you meet the anthracite oper-
ators at that time?"
Yes he replied, that is the plan
at this time and no changes have
been made in the plans"
According to the figures given out
by the national officers of the miners
organization they expect this strike to
bring out over 100000 men, about
10000 non-union miners in West Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania with the $780,
900 union miners OF this number
about 10000 will be out of the an
thracite districts, $4,000 in the Penn
sylyania bituminous districts $4,000
in Ohio, 900 in Indiana, $4,000 in III
inois, 10000 in Iowa, $4,000 in West
Virginia, 1000 in Michigan and ap-
proximately sixty thousand in Kansas,
Missouri, Texas, Indian Territory and
Arkansas. The states enumerated
will be the scene of the greater part
of the battle.
Mr.. Mitchell said that never in the
history of this country was there an
organization that could call out so
many men in one strike, having such |
widespread effect.
Il have said,' he declared, that the |
responsibility of bringing on such a |
strike was grave responsibility for
any people, We have been slow to
assume any such responsibility, and T
the responsibility rests, as any one
can see, on the operators.
Entitled to an Increase
"The prosperous condition of the
country warrants an increase for the
miners. We accepted decrease by !,
our own votes two years ago, when
at the time we were convinced that Il
the conditions demanded it. We have
ever been ready to stand right and
we stand right now"
When questioned about the cost of
the anthracite strike, he said that it's
cost had been estimated by the anthra-
cite strike commission to be loss of
SIS, 100000 of wages to the miners,
S50,000,000 of profits to the operators,
and $26,000,000 loss in freight rates.
There were other items of loss
hat raised the total figures much
over $100,000,00O for the strike. 1t
lasted little over twenty-six weeks
President Mitchell estimated that
sour people are dependent on every
miner. On this estimate a national
strike as planned will effect 100000
people dependent on the mining indus
ry for their daily bread
The dollar assessment would raise
approximately s2,50O,0OO national treas
Try funds by April /. This organiza.
ion now has in cash in its national
district, sub-district and local treas
lries $2,679,134.42. The two funds
N April ], will probably place S.
100000 cash available for strike pur-
loses.