The Tupelo journal., 1906-04-06
lover HALF A MIL
LION WILL STRIKE.
MANY MINERS WILL, HOWEVER,
SOON RETURN TO WORK
WHERE SCALE. is SIGNED
The National Executive Board VIII
Take Up the Details Of Mnnag-
ing the Strike and Measures
to Protect Property.


to Protect Property.
-
Indianapolis, Ind, March 31.-The
national convention of the United Mine
Workers of America adjourned ! n
die, Friday, after authorizing the ma
tional and district officers to sign q
wage agreement, with any coal opera
tor who would agree to pay the scale
of 1908 or its equivalent for a period OF
two years. This is an advance or 5,55
per cent. in wages in Illinois. Indiana,
Ohio and western Pennsylvania, and all
other districts except the southwest,
composed of Missouri, Kansas, Texas,
Arkansas and the Indian territory,
where an advance of three cents per
ton is demanded, as the 1903 scale is
practically in force in that district.
Declined Arbitration Oher
The convention declined an offer
made by the operators of Illinois, In
diana and Ohio to submit the wage diff
~ferences to arbitration. Where a coal
operator owns mines in different dis
tricts 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,
at once, 500 500 men in the anthracite
and bituminous fields.
Joint State Conventions.
The joint state conventions of the
outlying districts to be held next week
are now in session at Charlestown, w.
Va; Louisville, KY; Des Moines, Ia;
Saginaw, Mich, and Clearield, in CEN
trail Pennsylvania were empowered I'M
der the action of the convention to sign
agreements with the operators of those
states if they agree to pay the 1903
scale.
The men will return to work as soon
as this scale is signed. If there is dis
agreement in these joint state conven-
lions any of the miners can sign the
scale and resume work where individ-
ual operators pay the advanced scale.
Miners Expectations.
1t is anticipated that the scale will
be signed in a few days by employers
of $4,000 miners. The Pittsburg Coal
Co. and F. l.. Robbins, of western
Pennsylvania, who also owns mines in
Ohio, Illinois and West Virginia, will,
it is expected, sign at once, together
with a number of Independent opera
tors. The miners expect to get the
advance soon in all the Indiana mines
south of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad,
in a number of Central Indiana mines,
in one-half of the Illinois mines and
in a large per centage of the mines of
Ohio. The duration of the strike in
Michigan, Kentucky, Central Pennsyl-
vania. Iowa and West Virginia can bet
ter be determined when the state com-
ventions meet, when expressions from
the operators as to their intentions will
be made.
President MitchelI's Belief.
President Mitchell said he believed
one-half of the tonnage of Illinois, In
diana, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania
would sign very soon, and a large num-
Der of independents, having an annual
output of 5000, 900 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.
Management of the Strike.
The national executive board will
meet this morning to take up the de-
tails of managing the strike. 1t was
empowered to decide as to what en-
ployes will be allowed to continue work
at the mines to prevent the destruction
of the property during the suspension.
There is, in the national, district and
local treasures of the miners 81, 500, 900,
of which $400, 900 is in the national
treasury. President Mitchell expects to
leave Sunday for New York to meet in
joint conference with the anthracite
operators.
The convention failed to expel Pat
rick Dolan and Uriah Bellingham, the
Pittsburg district officials, from the Or
ganization by a vote of $50 votes to 1853.
The controversy was referred back to
the Pittsburg district.
The Readings Policy.
Philadelphia, March 31.-In conse-
quence of the suspension of mining in
the anthracite regions, the Philadelphia
& Reading Coal & Iron Co. will not
grant the usual spring reduction of so
cents a ton on domestic sizes of anthra-
cite this year; neither does the COM
pany intend to increase the price. All
the other companies throughout the
hard coal regions will follow the Read
ing's action.
1t is said that the Reading company
will refuse to furnish coal to all deal
ers who increase the retail prices.
Confiscation Order.
Springfield, O., March 31.-The Cleve.
land Cincinnati, Chicago and st. Louis
Chg Four) railroad has issued a gen.
eral order to confiscate all coal in tran
sit on all its lines passing through this