Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-04-01
rs HOPED LOCKOUT WILL Be- SHORT
Question of Wages Not SO Much at
Stake as How the Agreements Be-
tween the Operators and Miners
VIII be signed-New Head Of the
Miners Union Conservative.


INDIANAPOLIS. IND. March 81 -
Two hundred and fifty thousand picks
dropped from the hands OF as many
bituminous coal miners of tie United
States this evening not TO be used
again until 4 wage settlement has
been reached ana Il scale adopted be-
tween the members of the United Mile
Workers OF America and the coal on
orators of the various fields. Tomor-
row morning 100000 men will be idle.
The situation does not indicate pro-
longcd strikes. An open winter and
industrial depression have left n large
stock of coal on hand and the differ
ences between the miners and oper.
ators are very slight II is practically
admitted that the wage scale will be
continued. but some policies In con-
temptation will be changed tonight by
the national officers in the miners or
sunization and local differences ne
tween operators and miners are slight.
Until two years ago the bitumnous
coal mining wage of the country we're
based upon the agreement reached In
the central competitive field consist
ing of Illinois. Ohio, Indiana and West
ern Pennsylvania and were con-
sidered as n unit. This unit
item was broke two years
ago when a scale with Pittsburg
operators was agreed to- Operators
signed the scale individually through
out the countr-. Since that time min
ers have tried to get back to the unit
scale or interstate agreement. but OPP
orators OF Western Pennsylvania. Ohio
and Illinois. in negotiations lasting
all the past winter, have refused TO
meet interstate convention with the
miners.
AS last resort President Mitchell
permitted districts 10 sign and author
lied the scale as minimum. Failing
to agree the districts and miners were
permitted to sign individually.
Situation as it is Today.
Vice President Lewis, who will sue
coed President Mitchell tomorrow, Is
endeayoring 10 revive the interstate
unit rule. In the meantime district
joint meetings are being held in the
various states. Central Pennsylvania
and the block coal district OF Indiana
CLAY county, are the only two dis
tricts that he signed Indiana opera
tors and the miners are adjusting their
differences and have decided TO con-
tinue ut work pending a settlement.
There will be no strike in Indiana.
The Illinois meeting at Springfield
has not reached an agreement, but re-
lations are friendly. Western Penn
sylvania has not reached an agreement
aud the mines will close down. throw.
ing ont OF work 10000 men,
Ohio mines will close also as no
agreement has been reached The
Southwest district consisting of Mis-
souri,, Kansas. Oklahoma. Texas and
Arkansas are holding its meetings at
Kansas City, and !; is said the miners
will be idle for time.
Thirty-fiyc thousand are affected.
The miners of the Kanawaha fields
in West Virginia are holding their
Joint meeting at Huntington and while
no agreement has been reached one
is expected The New River. Poca-
hontas and Fairmont fields are non
union and are not affected.
West Virginia and Kentucky min
ers and operators will continue, pend
ing n settlement.
Lewis viii Not Act Hastily.
Presidontelect Lewis. it was state d
tonight. will make no move for several
days. He wishes negotiations now in
progress TO reach some kind of con-
clusion before he begins to work ont
his plans.
- He is still in the hope OF renstating
the Joint resolutions with the opera
tors OF Ohio Western Pennsylvania
and Illinois. and the indications are
that he viii call an interstate joint
conference within the next two weeks.
He will not convene tho new ma
tional executive board for at least a
week. He was not ready today to an