Omaha daily bee., 1906-04-04
SOFT COAL MINERS At WORK
Eighteen Thousand Men Back in the Pits at
Pittsburg.
INDEPENDENT OPERATORS STAND OUT
owners EmPloyinE Twelve Thousand
Men say They VIII Not sign
scaIe-sItuatIOn in other
states

PITTsBURG, April 3.-with the eXcep-
ton Of one or two points outside Of the
PittsburE district the strained situation
between operators and miners I'm the soft
coal fields OF western Pennsylvania Is
hourly growing more pacific. Following the
signing of the scale yesterday demanded
by the miners the mines OF the operators
who signed the scale resumed their opera
tions today. although in many instances
with reduced forces.
In the Pittsburg district there were 1900
miners working and 200 were idle. Nearly
all Of the mines OF the Pittsburg Coal
company were in operation and It was eN-
pected that those men who are out will
return within day or so. 1t was ex-
planned that, following holidays, it was
generally several days before all the inen
returned to their labor. The cause OF the
idleness OF the men today, however, was
said to be due 20 their failure to receive
word Of the signing of the scale.
Independents VIII Not Sign.
The independent operators who met last
night and decided not to sign the scale
held another meeting tonight. The inde-
pendent operators employed between 1900
and 1900 men and their mines were all idle
is signed or an agreement is reached be-
tween the operators ana employees
The Independent operators were I'm ses-
sion until almost midnight. Representatives
OF twenty operators were present, rep
resenting an annual output of 20,O00OO0
tons. permanent organization was formed
and after the meeting the following Of
fcial statement was given out:
At meeting of the independent oper-
ators held tonight the position taken at the
previous meeting was reaffirmed and no
action was taken toward the acceptance
of the 1903 scale. The probable outcome OF
an independent coal operators association
OF western Pennsylvania district Those
present were absolutely unanimous against
signing the 1908 scale.
1t is announced that the independents
would not work their mines nonunion.
which means an entire suspension of their
operation.
1t was learned tonight that the entire
nonunion field of the Allegheny valley
would continue work without interruption.
This is in what is known as the Freeport
vein.
DOIan starts Trouble.
Interest in the labor situation in the Pitts
burg district today was diverted to the dis
trict convention in this city and the attempt
of Patrick Dolan to regain control OF the
convention. The convention met TO hear
the report OF the tellers, the reading of
which consumed the entire day. The result
was not announced with certainty because
Of dispute as to some Of the voting en-
velopes. II was semi-officialy stated, how
ever, that Frank Feehan was elected presi-
dent; ]. s. Clark, Moon Run, vice president;
John Hurley, Arnold City, secretary treas
Irer. National executive board members
are stated TO be William Little, A. ]. Krat-
erski, James Sheehan, William Booth, A.
l.. Davis, George Black S. A. Whtzle Paul
Flynn, Il. p Hanaway and James watc-
horn.
During the session of the convention
Dolan appeared in the hall and attempted
to preside over the convention announcing
that he was the only legal chairman of the
meeting. The convention was in a turmoil
when Dolans counsel appeared and an at
tempt was made to eject him from the hall.
| He notified the convention that they had
no legal right TO remove Dolan and then
| left the hall. few minutes afterward riot
| and disorder broke out again and the dele
gates clamored that Dolan be forcibly
| thrown from the hall A committee of ten
was appointed to carry out a resolution to
/ this end and as the committee approached
Dolan he quietly left the hall 1t is ex-
peeted that Dolan will appeal to the court
tomorrow to adjudge the delegates in con-
tempt of court
strike Conditions at Irwin.
From other districts it is announced that
few mines are operating with full forces.
the same conditions prevailing as in the
Pittsburg district. At Irwin, however. the
nearest to an actual strike prevails. There
the men are being urged to stand fast and
! told that the operators will eventually
concede the demands. At delegate con-
vention today scale committee fixed a
scale which calls for an advance of s
cents more than the scale of 1903 for p!ck
mining, and the operators were invited
to conference on April u. The works
have been picketed in the meantime ard
the strikers are in an ugly mood over the
appearance OF armed deputies
At Clearheld, where the annual conven-
ton Of the district is being held the oper-
ators announced today that they cannot
meet the scale committee until tomorrow
1t was reported tonight that the scale
would be signed and it is expected that
work will be resumed in this district within
the week.
In the Johnstown district work is prac-
tically at a standstill No trouble has
occurred at the Berwind- White works. al
though number OF armed guards are on
duty. No attempt was made to interfere
with the strikers. II is reported tonight
that the company is bringing in non
union men and evicting union miners from
company houses.
big mass meeting was held at South
Fork today and it was resolved to re-
frain from returning to work until after
the Clearfield convention takes action.