The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-03-12
WILL QUIT APRIL /
Miners Will Be Idle For a Time
At Least.

K A cessation OF mining industries Oh
the greater part of the country threat
ems and will in all probability be in
augurated about April first, the date
of the expiration of the Joint agree
ment' entered into two years ago.
That the Iowa field will be included in
the trouble little doubt now exists.
Secretary Edwin Perry of the Iowa
Mine Workers, seen concerning the
probability of strike, replied: mo,
there will be no strike, but there will
in all probability be a cessation OF
mining for a certain period. For a
month or possibly longer. Many rea-
sons exist for this period of idleness
and | believe it will come. The min
ers do not desire it, but it will most
likely be brought about. No great
amount of coal is being stored up by
the big users and no extra effort
seems to be in progress to provide
against emergencies, as was done two
years ago"
Fuel" q weekly journal that is in
touch with the situation that exists in
the eastern states, has the following
lconcerning the eastern fields, but nc
mention is made Of Iowa workers:
1.-The decision was reached at In
ldianapolis last week that there will
be no joint interstate conference call
| ed for the present. Effort was made
to have the date of the Indianapolis
conference relating to the call post
poned until the Illinois operators hac
completed the present meetings witt
the miners of Illinois, but the operat
ors of western Pennsylvania, Ohio
and Indiana would not consent, sc
! that the conference was held or
Thursday as before agreed.
The meeting failed to reach III
agreement on the subject. During tht
| Thursday conference President JohI
Mitchell charged the operators witt
using dilatory tactics to force a sus
lpension and he intimated that unles!
they changed their policy he would
issue call for national convention
of the miners to prepare for a gigan
tic wage conetst. 1t now seems Ger
tain that the wage contest will come
but for what length OF time no on'
can say, no more than what the ent
will be can be prophesied The oper
ators says, however, that if the sus
Ipension does come there will be nj
working of a part of the mines a
two years ago, at least so far as Hi
lnois is concerned. A short suspen
sion would not be attended with ser
Iious losses, but after thirty days i
would begin to be felt. +.
Following the adjournment of tn
ljoint conference without being able t
agree on the calling of an interstat
convention, President Mitchell of tn
United Mine Workers issued a CA
for a special national convention O
the miners March ~.
THE action of the miners chief i
interpreted to mean that the susper
sion of mining In the bituminou
fields Of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio an
Western Pennsylvania on April l wi
in all probability be strike for a
advance in wages, and may result i
q protracted struggle.
Since the operators have refuse
TO take part in the making of a wag
scale, the miners now declare tina
they will make the scale in their ow
convention and will strike to enforc
it If necessary. That it will be an az
vance over the present scale is sal
to be almost foregone conclusion
as the miners are determined that
they have to go into q fight on Apr
they will make an issue worth figh
ing for" .