New-York tribune., 1908-04-01
100000 MINERS OUT.
NOT SERIOUS, HOWETER.
Thought Wase Settlement m todf
Fields U'M Be Reached Soon.

Tndisnspolis March 31-Tvo hundred ana
Nrtv thousand picks dropped from the hanos o.
as many hitun,inous coal miners of the Unite"
States this evening, not 10 he used again uh'ii
wage settlement has been reached and a STAR
sdop,ed between the members Of the Chi'eo
Mine Workers of America and the coal operators
of the various fields
The situation, however. docs not Indicate pro-
Ioneed strikes An open winter and Industrial
5o-ressio,, have left large stock of coal on
hand and the differences between miners and
orerstors are slight. 1t is practically agreed
that the present wage scale will be continued
fut some policies in connection win the cilaiiss
tonight in the national officers OF the miners
organization and local differences between
orerators and miners have resulted in tempo
rary suspension from work until new wage
scale is agreed TO, either by districts or lhui-
viduaI mines.
T--.u tuo wears ago the biturninous coal min
;ne Uare of the country was based upon the
agreement reached in the central competitive
field consisting of Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and
Western Pennsylvania. and considered as & dhIl-
This unit system was broken two years ago
when President Mitchell signed scale with
Pittsburg operators. who agreed 10 pay the
scale demanded after operators of the other
three states had refused, and the miners won
their fight in consequence. Operators signed
Since that time the miners hava tried TO get
hack the unit rule or interstate agreement.
hut operators of Western Penns, lvania, Ohio
and Illinois after negotiations lasting all the
last winter have refused TO meet in interstate
convention with the miners. AS a last resort
President Mitchell called the miners in natlonal
convention, and district settlements were au-
thorized with the present wage scale as
minimum. Failing TO agree by districts miners
were authorized TO sign the present scale with
operators individually.
Vice President Lewis, who VIII succeed PresI-
dent Mitchell tomorrow. is endeavoring 10
revive the interstate unit rule. In the mean
time district joint meetings are being held in
the various states.
Central Pennsylvania and the block coal dis
trict OF Indiana CClay County, are the only
two districts that have signed up Indiana
operators and miners. in session at Terre Haute,
are adjusting their small differences and have
decided to continue at work pending settle
rrent There will 'be no strike in this state. The
Illinois district meeting at Springfield has not
reached an agreement, but the relations be
zween the opposition interests friendly.
Western PENNSYLVANIA has not reached agree
rnent and the mines viii close down. throwing
out Of work thirty thousand men. Ohio mines
viii close also. agreement has been
reached The Southwestern district, consisting
of Missouri. Kansas. Oklahoma, Texas and Ar
kansas. is holding its meeting at Kansas City,
and il is said the miners will be idle for a time
Every coal mine in Iowa closed tonight.
Thfr1v-fve thousand men are affected. The
miners Of the Kanawha field in West Virginia
are holding their joint meeting at Huntington.
and while no agreement has been reached one
Is expected. The New River. Pocahontas and
Fairnnon. fields are non-union and are not af
fected.
West Virginia and Kentucky miners and oper-
ators will continue operations, It is believed,
pending a settlement
Presfdent-elect Lewis, OF the miners national
organization. said this evening he would make
no move for several days. He wishes negotia-
1iors now In progress in the various districts to
reach some kind Of conclusion before he begins
Ia work out his plans He is still in the hope
Of reinstafins the joint relations between the
operators of Indiana. Ohio Western Pennsyl-
vana and Illinois. and the indications are that
he will cali an interstate Joint conference within
the next weeks. He will not convene the
new national executive board for at least a
week