Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-02
Celebrating Eight-Hour Day.
STANDSTILL IN ILLINOIS.
$50 Mines to Close Down Today-No
Demonstration

CHICAGO, April 2-Without demonstra-
ton of any kind, but quietly as for holi-
day, 800 coal mines in Illinois will close
down today. The 5000 miners employed
In the shafts will remain at their homes in
pursuance of the strike instructions issued
from the Springfield headquarters Coal
digging will come to an abrupt standstill
practically throughout the state.
Operators in Chicago announced yester-
day that no precautions have been taken
to provide for protection. The operators
have faith In the promises of President
Perry of the local district that order will
be observed among the strikers
Small forces of men, such engineers,
firemen and pumpmen, will By kept at
work at each mine to guarantee agains (
injury to the property from natural causes.
This will require perhaps from f.Tenty to
nifty men at each shaft.
working continuously, because Water col
lects rapidly in the underground Clan. bers
o, the mines and destroys the;a. Other
workmen will be kept busy repairing the
timbering underground to prevent the fall
ing in of roofs and sidewalks. The mine
foremen, who usually members OF the
union, also will be allowed to superlntend
the work of preserving the properties.
In the majority of cases the miners live in
houses owned by the companies. 1t Is
planned that they shall continue 20 occupy
these houses and failure to keep up rent
payments will not be regarded as grounds
for cVicting them during the progress of
the strike.
Complete Shutdown Reported.
KANSAS CITY, April 2-Thers was q
complete shutdown today in the bituminous
coal fields. included in the Southwestern
Miners Association in Missouri, Kansas,
western Arkansas and the territories. A
fo tad h,,,
sumed as usual No scenes of disorder were
reported the men generally remaining
quietly at their homes.
In almost every district the general be-
lief was expressed by both tho operators
and miners that an amicabie settlement
would soon be reached and that the strike
would be of short duration. Nevertheless
the miners said they would remain out I'M
til a satisfactory scale is signed, and there
was a general movement to carefully store
all available coal The Kansas City South
ern railway, however, has Issued an order
to the effect that no coal mined along its
line since Thursday last shall be conf1s-
Gated. This will mean the distribution of
at least $50 cars of coal to towns where
there is shortage.
10000 Idle in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio. April chairman j.
H. Winder of the Ohio operators today an
nounced that he had received word from
all over the Ohio districts that none of
the 10000 miners in the state is at work,
except the pumpmen and engineers. who
were not ordered out. Mr.. Winder says
that the reports show the men will remain
out until the wage question is settled. 1t
is unofficially admitted that some of the
operators want to sign the scale and a num-
Der of the men want to go to work
Secretary Savage of the miners organi-
zation declared today that the scale will
be signed by the operators who want TO
he ad and that the
will not walt for u state agreement
Expect Agreement in Kansas.
PITTSBURG, Kan, April 2-Today in
this mining district was spent by the miners
In celebrating the passage of the eight
hour law. There was no demonstration,
and none is expected. All mines are idle.
The miners feel that agreement VIII
soon be reached. The men, however. say
that while they are anxious TO work. they
will not go back until settlement has
been made.
No Strike at Pomeroy, Ohio.
POMEROY. Ohio, April 2-There will he
no miners strike in the Pomeroy Bend dis
trict The operators will pay the price de-
manded and will sign the scale this week.
Obeyed Order to Man.
READING, Pa, April 2-official informa-
ton received in this city today is to the
effect that the Reading company miners
obeyed the strike order TO man. The an
thracite coal around the coil1eries was
cleared up today and sent to market
All but One Mine at Work.
IRWIN. Pa, April 2.-Reports from ali
but one mine In the Irwin district are to
the effect that the men are at work There
was no formality about ACCEPTING the adj
vance of cents ton and proportional ad-
vance for machine men and day Labor. The
miners did not require operators 10 sign q
contract. The Penn Gas Coal Company re-
ports there was no trouble at Yough shaft
and seventy-five more men went 70 work
today. big meeting WAS held yesterday
at Edna No. = Of The Baltimore and Pitts
burg Coal Company. The organizers adj
dressed the men on tie question OF de-
manding an eight hour day