The Topeka state journal., 1906-03-31
Over Half MilIion Coal Miners
VIII Merely Quit Work.
But Thousands VIII Go Back in
Short Time.
NO JOINT AGREEMENT.
Operators Willing to Pay Ad-
vance Win Do So.
And Their Employees Will Be
Authorized to Return.

AlIMOElA6U 10 4obtEMa
indianapolis, Ind. March s1-The ma
tfona1 executive board Of the United
Mine Workers Of America held a ees~
sion today to take up IN detail the
management OF the strike which viii
be IN augurated IN the anthracite ard
bituminous coal mining districts of the
country at the close of work today.
Men numbering 509,5O0 VIII leave
the mines this evening not to return till
their employers have signes the wage
scale demanded by the miners in ma
tionat convention. In the central com
petitive district composed OF Illinois.
Indiana, Ohio and western Pennsyl-
vania. Monday viii be the eighth ami
versary OF the eight hour day conces-
sion and VIII be observed as usual as
q holiday. It was anticipated by mem
bers Of the national executive board
TO-DAY that the scale would be signed
in all probability by some Of the oper-
a1ors CT western Pennsylvania, either
this evening or Monday.
Before the board went into execu-
tive session at the national head
quarters OF the mine workers, mem
bezs said a formal strike order would
not be issued, but at the close Of work
tooay the men would leave the mines
with their tools and would not return.
untu the scale had been signed by
the operators and they had been SO
noeldsd by the district officials. Mem
beug oe shs board said that every step
possible would be taken to prevent
violance ard q formal declaration to
the miners forbiddfng rioting or de-
stFuction OF property and urging them
to property conduct themselves would
be isued.
Convention Ad5ourns.
Indianapolis. Ind. March s1.-The
national convention of the United
Mine workers Of America adjourned
sine die after authorizing the national
aud district officers to sign a wage
agreement with any coal operator who
would agree to pay the scale of 1908
or its equivalent for q period OF two.
years This is an advance OF 5.55 Ger
cent. In wages in Illinois. Indiana.
Ohio and western Pennsylvania and
all other districts except the south
west, composed of Missouri, Kansas,
Texas. Arkansas, and the Indian Ter
ritory, where an advance of 8 cents
per ton Is demanded, as the 1903 scale
is practically in force in that district.
President Mitchell had absolute con
troll Of the convention throughout its
sessions and every act desired by him
was done. lie signif1ed that if the CON
veutiOn did not adopt the resolutions
petnltlih tne MINERS 70 slsn Wher-
ever 1i4e euNalicS scare was paio' ne
Moulu ISSsn- LLe Vote was 9nan-
took a vigorous position against 1t.
The convention declined an offer
made by the operators of Illinois, In
elana ana ONO 70 submit the wage
uiirg '7llles 20 a. al -.I Dlelslll0h
,c e q SQal o l1e.5Ltol owns ll Inln rs es
in dinerent districts the scale must be
slAnea tof all tne pfoperues az the
same une oelope any VIII pe allowed
70 run
Ahe acton or phe convention VIII
pElns OUT OF me mines or the country
ots,oVu men IN tne antnracile and pl-
luminous Heias- 4hese VIII remain
s.5iE5 ul.lll s5LlleIiieIitS nave pee1
signed boy districts or with individual
operators Inc only miners az work
On MONDAY wiz ne z2,VyO men IN Jhe
new hiFel foca nonlas, fairmount
anu ~1ll-ta- lieids OF west FltBlHta'
Nhefe an agreement was MADE sew
era Gays ago 70 aioW me men 10
con llnue eL Worh uhll lhe olsIrlct con
Nehtioh Ho~ iH session az OhaIlesoon
mas feac1eu a disagreement Win the
oHeIa-ots.
he lolnT state conventions OF the
oli-s lile o-S-li-tS 10 ne L5iu next "eeh
os nov ln session aL Cnarleston' W.
a. AoolsNllte KY 4}es MONIES. 1a'
saginaw, Mlch- ana Cleafuelu- IN cen
tA. 9lilis9 seiiia' SlA wei ca
-3utt enc acti3a OF 1lle e,ilE 9!l.loh To-
cay 10 si8l agree menus win the oper-
ators or lhose states II tney agree TO
nay the 1903 scale
-he men Wiz Eelurh % work az
soon as tne scale is signed III 1here
IS disa greement - these Joint scale
conNent'ons any or tne miners can
sign tae scale ana resume WoIk Waere
inolNidual operators pay Ohe advanced
scale