Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-04-03
MINERS ARE IDLE
$4,000 Quit Work Until Wage
Settlement Is Reached
DIFFERENCES ARE SLIGHT

Workers In eituminous Fields Want
Unit Rules, or Interstate Agree
ment Restored atoms Between
/ Opposition Interests Are Friendly
Indianapolis, April 1.-Two hundred
and fifty thousand picks dropped from
the hands of as many bituminous coal
miners of the United States last even
ing, not to be used again until a wage
settlement has been reached and scale
adopted between the members of the
United Mine Workers of America and
the coal operators of the various fields
The situation, however. does not in
dictate prolonged strike. An open win
ter and industrial depression have left
large stock Of coal on hand, and the
differences between miners and opera
tors are very slight 1t is practically
agreed that the present wage scale will
be continued, but some policies in con
nection with the change last night in
the national officers of the miners or
ganization and local differences be-
tween operators and miners have re-
suited in temporary suspension of work
until new wage scale is agreed to
either by districts or individual mines.
Until two years ago the bituminOus
coal mining wage of the country was
based upon the agreement reached III
the central competitive field, consisting
of Illinois, Ohio. Indiana and western
Pennsylvania, and considered as unit.
This unit system was broken two years
ago. when President Mitchell signed a
scale with Pittsburg operators, who
agreed to pay the scale demanded after
operators of the other three states had
refused and the miners won their fight
in consequence. Operators signed the
scale individually throughout the coun-
try.
Since that time the miners have tried
to get back the unit rule, or interstate
agreement, but operators of western
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, after
negotiations lasting all the past winter.
have refused to meet In interstate con-
vention with the miners. AS a last re-
sort Mitchell called the miners in ma
tional convention and district settle
ments were authorized, with the pres
ent wage scale as minimum. Failing
to agree by districts. miners were au-
thorized to sign the present scale with
operators individually.
Vice President Lewis, who succeeded
President Mitchell today, is endeavor.
ing to revive the interstate unit rule.
In the meantime district joint meetings
are being held in the various states.
Central Pennsylvania and the block
coal district of Indiana (Clay county,
are the only two districts that have
signed up. Indiana operators and min
ers, in session at Terre Haute, are adj
| iustng their small differences and have
decided to continue at work pending Il
settlement. There will be no strike in
! this state.
The Illinois district meeting al
| Springfield has not reached an agree
ment, but the relations between the
opposition interests are friendly. West
ern Pennsylvania has not reached an
agreement and the mines will close
down, throwing out Of work 80, 900 men.
Ohio mines will close also, as no agree
ment has been reached.
The southwest district, consisting OF
Missouri Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and
Arkansas. are holding meeting in
Kansas City, and 1t is said the miners
will be idle for time. Thirty-fve
thousand miners are affected. The