The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-26
President Lewis Telephones They Have Decided to Give Up
 the Struggle
ULTIMATUM WILL BE SENT
 10 INDIANAPOLIS TODAY
Union President Asks What Considera- ton Will Be Given Union Men. 1t Is Open Shop Or
 Nothing.

The miners strike, which was prac- tically ended Monday, will be formally called off this week. probably tonight or Thursday.
 On Sunday the United Mine Workers of the district began to show signs of de- moralization, and by Monday it was gem orally understood that no more rations would be distributed to the strikers and this, of course, accentuated the demorali- zation. But it was the telegraphic corre- spondence Monday afternoon between T. L. Lewis, president of the miners union, and G. B. Mccormack of the Alabama Coal Operators association. in which the former asked for a conference, promising to meet the operators more than half way, and the latter in behalf of the as- socation turned down the request, that gave those on the outside the first sub stantial ground for believing the strike was about to be ended
 Indicated a Collapse.
 Lewis proposition. 1t was pointed out, had the same air or tone that accom- panies all closing appeals of defeated strikers. It indicated clearly complete collapse of this strike, and it was felt then that whether the strike was ordered off from national headquarters or was simply to be allowed to fizzle out, the cheering effect on the public would be the same.
 With yesterday came more definite in- formation from sources deemed reliable It was to the effect that the executive national board of the United Mine Work CTS, in session at Indianapolis, positively decided to call the strike off.
 At the Sloss- Sheffield Drifton mines the union local surrendered it's charter yes terday morning, and the men applied for work. It was said that number of other locals did likewise
 Governor Corners action in breaking up the strikers tent habitations as a pre- cautionary measure against disease was unexpected on the part of the union, and naturally added to the gloom at head quarters.
 In their reply to President Lewis tele- gram Monday, the operators specified, among the various reasons why they could not consider any proposition from the United Mine Workers, that the union had been guilty of murders and other foul crimes, and of attempting to estab- fish social equality between whites and blacks.
 Called Mccormack Over Phone.
 Yesterday afternoon President McCor- mack received a telegram from President Lewis explaining that the union was not in favor of social equality, but was only insisting on an equality of wages for the same character of work. No reply was sent to that telegram, but soon after it had been received Mir Lewis called up MT. Mccormack over the long distance telephone and informed him that his full executive board had been called into ses- sion, that the strike was to be called off. and that in view of the ending or 1t, he asked what the operators would do for the union men. Mir. Mccormack told him in substance that as all matters of importance had to be acted on by the op- orators executive committee he could make no reply to the inquiry before to- day.
 Will Send Ultmatum.
 Last night those of the operators who had heard of the long distance conversa- ton said that a brief ultimatum would be sent to Lewis this morning The pres ident of the United Mine Workers used the telephone, 1t was suggested by prom inent operators, for the purpose of involv ing the president of the operators asso- citation in 8 quasi-recognition of the union It is believed that with the tele- gram which will be sent to Lewis today will end forever all correspondence.
 With the operators of Alabama it is open shop or nothing.
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