The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-04-03
MINERS our WORK

differences Between Operators anu
Miners gery SIiGht--Chahges Ia
General Officers CT 5iineFs' organ
fzafioa Cause OF Temporary ssus-
nension OF Wor6-Beiicved That
a Satisfactory Wage scale Nih ''1
Agreed to.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March 3l-Iwo
hundred and fifty thousand PICKS
dropped from the hands or as many
bituminous coal miners OF the united
States this evening. not TO be used
again until a wage settlement mas
been reached and a scale adopted pc
tween the members Of the Unlted
Mine Workers of America and the
coal operators of the various helds.
Tomorrow morning 100000 Will Dc
idle.
The situation. however. does not IL
dicate prolonged strike. An open
winter and Industrial depression
have left a large stock OF coal On
hand and the differences between
miners and operators are very sllgnt.
It is practically agreed that the pre-!
sent wage scale will be continued,
but some politics in connection with
the change tonight in the national Oh
ficers of the miners organization ana
local differences between operators
and miners have resulted in tempor-
ary suspension from work until a
new wage scale is agreed to either by
districts or individual mines.
Until two years ago the bituminous
mining wage Of the country was bas-
y-o0Nhp6
central competitive field, consisting OF
Illinois, Ohio, Indina and western
Rannsylvania, and considered as a
anti. This unit system was broken
two years ago when President john
Mitchell signed scale with Pitts
burg operators who agreed to pay the
scale demanded after operators OF the
other three states had refused ana
the miners won their fight Operators
aligned the scale individually through
out the country
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 convention with the
miners AS a last resort President
Mitchell called the miners in national
convention and district settlements
were authorized with the present
wage scale as a minimum. Failing to
agree by districts, miners were autho-
rized to sign the present scale with
operators individually.
Vice-president Lewis, who will sue
ceed President Mitchell tomorrow, is
endeavoring to revive the interstate
unit rule. In the meantime joint dis
trict 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
miners in session at Terre Haute are
adjusting their small differences and
have decided to continue at work
pending a settlement. There will be
no strike in this state. The Illinois
district meeting at Springfield has not
reached an agreement, but the re-
turns between the oppositions inter-
ests are friendly. Western Pennsyl-
vania has not reached an agreement
and the mines will close down, throw
ing out of work 10000 men. Ohio
mines will close also, as no agreement
has been reached. The southwest dis
trict, consisting of Missouri, Kansas,
Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas, are
holding it's meeting at Kansas City
and it is said the miners will be idle
for a time. Thirty-five thousand men
are affected. The miners of the Kama
wha field in West Virginia are hold
ing their joint meeting at Hunting
ton, and while no agreement has been.
reached one is expected.
The New River, Pocahontas and
Fairmont fields are non-union and are
not affected.
West Virginia and Kentucky min
ers and operators will continue opera
tions, it is believed, pending a set
tlement.
President-elect Lewis said tonight
he would make no move for several
days. He wishes negotiations now in
progress in the various districts TO
reach some kind of conclusion before
he begins to work out his plans. He
IS still in the hope of reinstating the
joint relations between the operators
of Indiana, Ohio, Western Pennsyl-
vania and Illinois, and the indica-
tions are that he will call an inter-
state joint conference within the next
two weeks. He will not convene the
new national executive board for at
least a week. He was not ready today
to announce his appointments. The Of
fee of national statistician will be
abolished, and it is understood that
Samuel Sexton is to be retired as
editor of the United Mine Work
ers."
Retiring President Mitchell, Presi-
dent-elect Lewis and w. B.. Wilson,
retiring secretary treasurer, were ten
dered banquet tonight by the mem
bers of the miners international exc
eutive board.
Bay City, Mich, March 31.-The
joint convention of Michigan opera
tors and miners today agreed that the
general scale Of wages of last year
shall continue in effect until March
81, 1909. The scale was taken up
clause by clause. and all the prin- |