The San Francisco call., 1908-04-01
$4,000 MINERS
DROP THEIR PICKS
Coal Mines Deserted Until the
Operators Agree TO New
Wage Scale
Prolonged Strike Not Indicated
and Workers Stick in
Many Districts

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March sI.-Two
hundred and fifty thousand picks
dropped from the hands of as many
bituminous coal miners OF che United
States this afternoon, not to be used
again until q wage settlement has been
reached and a scale adopted between
the members Of the united mine work
ers OF America and the coal operators
OF the various fields.
Tomorrow morning 250.000 men will
De idle and thousands OF coal mines
OF the country viii be deserted
The situation. however, does not in
oicate a prolonged strike. An open
winter and industrial depression have
left large stock Of coal on hand and
the differences between miners and op-
orators are very slight. It is practical
~ agreed that the present wage scale
VIII be continued but some politics in
connection with the change in the na-
tional officers OF the miners organiza-
tions and local differences between op-
orators and miners have resulted in
temporary suspension from work until
new wage scale is agreed 10 either
BY districts or individual mines.
Until two years ago the bituminous
coal mining wage 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 unit
WON LAST FIGHT
This unit system was broken two
years ago when President Mitchell
signed q scale with Pittsburg operators.
who agreed 70 pay the scale demanded
after operators of the other three
states had refused, and the miners won
their tight in consequence. Operators
signed the scale individually through
out the country.
Since that time the miners have tried
10 get back the unit rule or Interstate
agreement but operators Of western
Pennsylvania. Ohio and Illinois. after
negotiations lasting all the last winter.
have refused 10 meet in the interstate
convention with the miners. AS a last
resort President Mitchell called the
miners in national convention and dis
trlct settlements were authorized with
the present wage scale as a minimum
and, falling 10 agree by districts, the
miners were authorized TO sign the
present scale with operators individ-
uaIiy-
vice President Lewis. who viii sue
ceed President Mitchell tomorrow. is
endeavoring TO revive the interstate
unit rule In the meantime district
joint meetings are being held in the
various states. Central Pennsylvania
tCiay county) are the only two dis
tricts that have signed. Indiana op-
orators and miners in session al Terre
Haute are adjusting their small diff
ferences and have decided TO continue
al work pending a settlement There
VIII be no strike in this state. The
Illinois district meeting at Springfield
has not reached an agreement. but the
relations between the opposition inter
ests are friendly.
OCT IN PENNSYLVANIA
Western Pennsylvania has not
reached an agreement and the mines
VIII close down. throwing out of work
90 600 men Ohio mines will close
also. as no agreement has been reached
The southwest district. consisting Of
Missouri Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas
and Arizona. is holding its meeting at
Kansas City. and il is said, the miners
viii be idle for time Thirty-fve
thousand men are affected. The miners
OF the Kanawha field in West Vir-
ginia are holding their joint meeting
al Huntington No agreement has been
reached. but one is expected The
New river, Pocahontas and Fairmount
fields are nonunion and are not affected.
West Virginia and Kentucky miners
and operators will continue operations,
il is believed. pending q settlement
i y.
ming 10 revive the interstate agree
ment, which. il is said. may have in
duced some districts not 70 sign, said
this evening that he would make no
move for several days. He wishes the
negotiations now in progress in the
various districts TO reach some kind
OF q conclusion before he begins TO
work out his plans He is still in the
hope of reinstating the joint rela-
tions between the operators of Indiana,
Ohio, western Pennsylvania and Illi
nois. and the indications are that he
will call an interstate conference
within the next two weeks. He will
not convene the new national execu-
tive board for at least a week He was
not ready today to announce his ap-
pointments, but il became known that
the Office Of national statistician, held
BY Chris Evans, viii be abolished. and
samuel Sexton is TO be retired as edi-
tor of the United Mine Workers
Journal William Scaife Of Springfield,
III. succeeds Sexton