The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-03

Pittsburg, March 3I.-COal operators
and mine workers who returned today
from the Indianapolis convention gave
assurance that there will be no strike
in the pittsburg district this year. Pat
rick Dolan said the men would go to
Chairman Francis L. Robbins, of the
Pittsburg Coal Company, who fought
for more than week to prevent an
industrial war, said operations at Their
mines would not cease for day. All
but the Independents expressed their
pleasure over the result reached at In
dianapolis, and several of the latter
said they would pay the rate decided
upon under certain conditions. Pend
ing a meeting being arranged for next
week, however, no action would be
taken.
Mr. Robbins said arrangements
would be made at once to sign the scale
an dthat Monday being a holiday all
the mines controlled by his company
would be in operation on Tuesday.
The statement that the mines were to
be closed down for thirty days was
without foundation.
ARBITRATION PROPOSED.
indianapolis, March 31.-The .execu-
tive committee of the operators of the
southwestern district today sent the
following telegram to President Roose-
velt:
ITO the President, Washington. D. c.
Goal operators representing more
than 95 per cent. Of the output of coal
in the territory named, this afternoon
offered the following resolution in
joint convention:
The operators of the Southwestern
Interstate Coal Operators Associa-
.tiOn, embracing Missouri, Kansas, Ar
kansas, Texas and Indian territory, re-
aliZing the gravity of the crisis caused
by the failure of themselves and the
miners to agree on a wage-Scale and
conditions of labor in that field, now
propose to submit all questions ut issue
to arbitration before a commission to
be appointed by the president of the
United States, the award of said COM
mission to be binding on both opera
tors and miners
1.-THE miners voted against the resO-
tuition, but Notwithstanding their ac-
ton, the operators are still anxious
that the differences between them and
the miners be adjusted as suggested in
the resolution.
"W. c. PERRY, President,
southwestern Interstate Coal
Operators Association"
STRIKE IN ANTHRACITE SECTION
Indianapolis, Ind, March 31-The
national executive board of the United
Mine Workers of America held a ses-
sion today to take up in detail the
management of the strike which will
be inaugurated in the anthracite and
bituminOus coal mining districts of the
country at the close of work today. At
least 500, 800 men will leave the mines
this evening. In the central cOmpet-
tive district, composed of Illinois, In
diana, Ohio, western Pennsylvania
Monday will be the eighth anniversary
of the eight hour day concession and
it will be observed, as usual, as hol-
iday. Members of the board said that
every step possible would be taken to
prevent violence and formal declara-
ton to the miners forbidding riOting
or destruction of property and urging
them properly to conduct themselves
would probably be issued.
1t is announced by the district and |
board members that the miners will
avail themselves of the opportunity to
remedy many local grivances in the |
separate contracts. They will also no. |
enter into contract with an operator |
unless, besides meeting all of the scale |
contract requirements, he proposes to |
attend and participate in the next in |
terstate movement conference, when it |
is called The miners are thus to make |
strenuous efforts to preserve competi- |
tive district lines, though the Interstate |
relationship between themselves and |
the operators generally hav been brok- |
en- off.