The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-01
GREAT MINERS STRIKE
is ON IN FULL FORCE
Quarter of Million Men Lay Down Their Picks Until the
Wage Scale is Adjusted Strike is Peaceful One and
May Not Last Long, AS Conditions Favor an
Early Settlement of Difficulties
and Resumption of Work.

indianapolis, March 31.-Two hundred
and fifty thousand picks dropped from
the hands of as many bituminous coal
miners of the United States this evening,
not to be used again until q wage settle
ment has been reached, and scale adopt
ed between the members of the United
Mine Workers of America and the coal
operators of the various fields. Tomor-
row morning 25O,O0O men will be idle and
thousands of coal mines of the country
will be deserted.
The situation, however, does not indi-
cate a prolonged strike. An open winter
and industrial depression have left a
large stock of coal on hand and the diff
ferences between the miners and opera
tors are very slight. 1t is practically
agreed that the present wage scale will
be continued, but some politics in con-
nection with the change tonight In the
national officers of the miners organiza-
tion and local differences between opera
tors and miners have resulted in tenn
porary suspension of work until a new
wage scale is agreed to, either by dis
tricts or individual mines.
Until two years ago the bituminous coal
mining wage of the country was based
upon the agreement reached in the CEN
trail competitive field, consisting of Ill-
nois, Ohio, Indiana and Western Penn
sylvania and considered as a 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 con-
sequence Operators signed the scale in
dividually throughout the country.
Unit Rule Preferred.
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 ne
gotiations lasting all the past winter,
have refused to meet in interstate con-
ventions with the miners. AS last re-
sort President Mitchell called the miners
in national convention and district set
Elements were authorized with the pres
ent wage scale as a minimum, and fall
ing to agree by districts, miners were
authorized to sign the present scale with
operators individually
Vice President Lewis. who will sue
ceed President Mitchell tomorrow, is en-
deavoring to revive the interstate unit
rule. In the meantime, district joint
meetings are being held in ehe various
states.
Central Pennsylvania and the block dis
trict of indiana, (Clay county,, are the
only two districts that have signed up
Indiana operators and miners in session
ut Terre Haute are adjusting their small
differences and have decided to continue
at work, pending settlement. There
will be no strike in this state. The Illi-
rois district meeting at Springfield has
not reached an agreement but the rela-
tons between the opposing interests ara
friendly. Western Pennsylvania has not
reached an agreement and the mines will
close down, throwing out of work 3O,O)l
men. Ohio mines will close also as NO
agreement has been reached. The south
vest district, constituting Missouri, Kan