Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-04-01
SOFT COAL MEN 0yf
Quarter of Million Quit Work In
 Bituminous Districts.

1 DltufillIlUuS UlStIlCtS. 1 STRIKE PROBABLY SOON OVER
 Differences Between Mirers and Op-
 orators Not Serious, and Adjustment | Is Expscted-ouestion of Wages Not Involved.
 Pittsburg, April 51.-Committees rep
 resenting operators and miners having failed to agree at a joint wage confer l ence, the bituminOus coal mines of
 western Pennsylvania closed down for an indefinite period-until a working
 agreement can be reached.
 Reports from other states in which
 soft coal mining is carried on show
 that nearly 250000 men have stopped
 work in the absence of agreements be-
 tween the United Mine Workers union in the, various districts and the opera tors
 The question of wages is not directly involved, for the miners are asking no increase in compensation, and the op-
 orators are not asking them to accept
 reduction. The most serious differ
 ence before the joint committee was
 the period to be covered by the wage agreement adopted. The operators are
 against any settlement for a period of
 less than two years. The miners are
 not willing to accept last years terms
 for more than one year. The operators
 are also opposed to general strikes and
 i1sist upon clause in the agreement
 that will prevent miners in one mine quitting work because of grievances in some other mine. The operators also insist upon clause providing for set tlement of differences by conferences, appeals and arbitration.
 Operators Indifferent About Continuinq.
 Operators say they are willing but by no means anxious to continue under old conditions. The miners are particu- lariy worried over the situation be- cause, this being neither strike nor lockout, they cannot draw benefits.
 It is generally believed that the diff ferences between the miners and oper- ators will be satisfactorily adjusted soon.
 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. This unit system was broken two years ago, when President Mitch. ell signed a scale with Pittsburg op. orators, who agreed to pay the scale demanded after operators of the oth. CT three states had refused, and the miners won their fight in consequence. Operators signed the scale individual. ly throughout 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 win. l ter, have refused to meet in interstate convention with the miners. As a last resort President Mitchell called the miners in national convention. and dis 1 trict settlements were authorized, with , the present wage scale as a minimum. Failing to agree by districts. the min CTS were authorized to sign the present scale with operators individually.
 Joint Meetings Being Held.
 President Lewis of the ,ciners' un. ion is endeavoring to revi, Ulhe inter. state unit rule. In the meantime dis trict joint 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 min. CTS in session at Terre Haute have adjusted their small differences and have decided to continue at work pending a settlement. There will be no strike in Indiana. The Illinois district meeting at Springfield has not an agreement, but the rela. lions between the opposition interests are friendly. The Ohio mines will lose down. as no agreement has been The southwest district, con. sisting of Missouri. Kansas. okIaho. ma, Texas and Arkansas. are holding ts meeting at Kansas City. and 1t is 'aid the miners will be idle for a ime. Thirty-fye thousand men are Infected. The miners of the Kanawha ield. fin West Virginia. are holding heir joint meeting at Huntington. and while no agreement has been reached. me Is expected. The New River. Poca- Iontas and Fairmont fields are nonun. on and are not affected.
 West Virginia and Kentucky miners nd operators will continue operations, is believed. pending a settlement.
 District President Francis Feehan nade several efforts to have the opera DTS accept a one years settlement. but Q no avail. The joint committee. how yer. was not d.adlocked. and when be session ended 1t was upon a motion 3 adjourn to Thursday morning. today eing a general holiday among miners ! celebration of the inauguration of ! ha efrbf brur dar