The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-02-09
miners PREPARE
FOR A BIG STRIKE
OPERATORS REFUSE TO YIELD TO
THEIR DEMANDS FOR IN
CREASED WAGES.
Mine Workers Convention in Called
Session Decides to Hold Out for
Agreement Which Will Affect All
Districts.

Indianapolis, Ind, Feb. 3.-One of
the most dramatic scenes ever wit
messed in a national convention of the
United Mine Workers of America was
the final adjournment of that body
Friday afternoon after the dissolution
of the joint conference of operators
and miners of the central and south
western districts, because of inability
to reach an agreement on the wage
scale. When the lusty voices of the
miners mingled in the singing of
America" had hushed, an oppressive
silence fell upon the assembled dele
gates, and as President John Mitchell
slowly pronounced the words which
adjourned the seventeenth annual
convention without day, thus dissolv-
ing every possible hope of averting
gigantic industrial war without the
Intervention of some unexpected and
powerful influence, the miners
marched out of the hall, their faces
set with grim determination which
showed the steadfastness of purpose
which has marked the history making
session just closed
Strike Almost Certain.
The apparent determination of
both operators and miners indicates
that neither will make overtures to
the other for further negotiations, and
as indicated by the speeches of both
the radicals and conservatives of both
organizations on the floor of the joint
conference, unless some influence
which is not now foreseen, steps into
the breach, $4,000 men controlled by
the United Mine Workers will walk
out of the mines in every section of
the country on April 1. There have
been intimations that two agencies
the president of the United States and
the National Civic Federation-may
be appealed to to set in motion ne
gotiations looking to rehabilitation
of the joint state agreement, or at
least discussion of some possible
means Of bringing the operators and
miners together for further negotia-
tions. So far as known, however,
there is nothing upon which to base
an assertion that either the president
or the Civic Federation have decided
to offer their services.
The Coming Battle.
According to the figures given out
by the national officers of the miners
organization, they expect the strike to
bring out over 100000 men-about
10000 nonunion miners in West Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania with the 49,
900 union miners. OF this number
about 10000 will be out in the an
thracite districts, $4,000 in the Penn
sylvania bituminous districts, $4,000
in Ohio, 1900 in Indiana, $4,000 in
Illinois, 10000 in Iowa, 10000 in West
Virginia, 5000 in Michigan and APP
proximately $4,000 in Kansas, Mis-
souri,, Texas, Indian Territory and
Arkansas. The state enumerated will
be the scene of the greatest part of the
battle.
President Mitchell estimated that
four people are dependent on every
miner. On this estimate a national
strike such as is planned will affect
over 100000 people dependent on the
mining industry for their daily bread
The dollar assessment would raise ap-
proximately $2,500,O00 national treas
ury funds by April 1. This organiza-
ton now has in cash in its national,
district, sub-district and local treas
uries $2,679, 134.42. The two funds on
April l will probably place 100000
cash available for strike purposes.