Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-03-14
WILL AVERT BIG STRIKE
But t Is Likely That All hJnIng
Will Cease April 10.
VEST VIRGINIA FIELDS INCLUDED
Temporary Stop in Operations, But
Local Working Agreements During
Discussion OF Scale Likely - John
Mitchell in Control OF the Situation.

INDIANAPOLIS. March l3.-Every
coal mining district in the United
states and Canada, including the an.
.hracite districts. Is represented in
inc extraordinary international con-
vention convened here today by John
Mitchell TO place the United Mine
WORKERS organization oil Il war foot
ing Tor strike in the American soft
coal fields April l.
There are unmistakable indications
mat. while there will probably he n
temporary cessation OF coal mining in
the union mines in Western and Cen.
tral Pennsylvania, Maryland. West
virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan.
INDIANA, Illinois. Iowa, Missouri KAN
sas, Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas
on April |, it will not loom up ma.
tionally as serious strike threaten.
ing industrial activity of the country
or disturbing business conditions
There are also indications that move-
lhehts VIII be successful to give dis
tricis either directly or through the
'ia,,oiial oihcers an opportunity TO
continue mining by local agreements
under the present working contracts
ior n short time after March N when
they expire.
EVEN IL this is not done enough of
me coal mines of the country win ho
put In operation within two weeks m
supply The needs of the country and
70 TAKE the wind out of any serioua
strike scare N' '''''
Iohh Mitchell has again showed
'hat lie Is still masterful ana far.
seeing general. In the laat few doys
rluSDurg papers have been carrying
reports charging that he nronosn5
through this extraordinary noiiomoi
convention Of miners 10 foreorduin
iailures and embarrassment for his
successor after April |, r. L. Levi,
by embroilng the mines in iron, 10
among themselves and with the co,i
p.'aiors IN n great soft coal strIta
seemed when he called the min
erS' i'ooo delegates and their Leaders
together, that he had thcso chorros
IN mind. lie proceeded TO wine ~,
ou' by refusing to make any recon-
liiehdations regarding policy, lilo MI
'iSeu that The whole matter of noIinv
ne referred TO the national scala
committee and that that body. CON
posed OF rhc national officers ana a.,
ohicer from each OF the mlning u.s.,
tric's In the country. pronoro va,
p0s recommending q policy and
ras,, neiore that committee all
lac'iohs viii have opportunity TO a..
Sist in molding the recommended no.,
icy. 'ueu pol
The committee was In sesslo, an
allcrhoon and tonight. II viii nm.
nouDtedly formulate the scale d.
MINDS, ,, There are strong indications
'i,al the demands Will be shorn of al
pluIs and will ask that the nrcsent
scale he continued so far A., 49,
as concerned. There will ha ~
,iahd FOR few changes in The vol
ing provisions ~ "o'A'
There is a disposition on the mar,
vi some Of the coal operators 10 sim
n'a'e coal market prices in this man.
ncr or by tho threat OF bringing On
suc'i Il STRIKE said Mr. Mitchell we
nave done all that We couIJ do -
prevent this and ii looks now y, ~
though there would be Il fun susnom.
SION OF mining in all these great III.
luminous iields on April |. we hovo
stated our willingness to keen "I lhe
MINES me, In operation after April for
d limited time provided n WACO coz
,'ement is under negotiation on All,
/. put the operators. with soma nx
oep'ions. notably the Indiana onera
; oin. nave refused our requests for n
s;s1o wage conference and have per-
''u :" pos'ponements and DELAYS -