Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-10
COAL SITUATION UNSETTLED
MINERS CONSIDERING APPEAL
TO PRESIDENT TAFT.
Danger of Strikes Owing to No
Agreement Between Operators
and Their Employees.

Special Dispatch to The Star
PHILADELPHIA April 10.-There
has been no change overnight in the
situation brought about bysthe refusal
OF the anthracite mine owners to grant
the demands made upon them by the
representatives OF the United Mine
Workers of America. The operators
seem to regard the incident as practi-
cally a closed one. TIE miners dele
gates are in session considering what
is to be done next. if anything.
There is some strike talk. but 1t
comes from the more unstable element.
President Lewis and his near associates
having declared that they are very
much opposed to anything like a
strike just at the present time. IL Is
understood that the delegates today are
discussing two propositions-one is an
appeal to President Taft. as provided
for at the Scranton convention. The
other is said to be q plan to appeal to
the interstate commerce commission on
the ground that the decision or the
operators not to take further orders
for coal is i'm restraint of trade.
The company representatives deny the
report circulated that 1t is planning to
rescind the ffty-cent reduction In the price
OF coal made as usual this spring. MT.
Montgomery, sales agent for the Reading.
admitted that agents had been ordered
instructions.
Miners Getting Restless.
WILIKESBARRE. Pa. April 1O-What
may be expected to follow the refusal of
the mine workers to sign the agreement
offered by the anthracite operators was
indicated this morning when the mine
workers employed by the Temple Coal
and Iron Company at the Mount Lock-
out colliery. near here. complained that
the wages on certain kinds of work have
been reduced from $2.75 to 81 a yard.
They say also that they fear there will
be other reductions. They have not de-
ciared strike. but will hold a meeting
to discuss the best plan of procedure.
Mine workers at the Westminster col
liery also say that an inferior grade OF
powder to which they have been using
is being provided to them, and that they
are not able to accomplish such good
results with it in blasting. This means
to them they say, a practical reduction
in salary. as they cannot make as much
a day. They threaten to strike Ii there
is not a change to the former grade OF
powder.
No Binding Agreement.
1t is generally believed that the two
cases ihuicdte "hSt WIN ue TIC Cohoilioi
throughout the anthracite region for sew
eral months. Now that there is no agree
ment binding either mine workers or the
operators, the operators are expected tn
cut wages on various kinds of work. and
this will be sufficiently irritating to the
mine workers, II is believed in many in
stances. to make them strike. The OPP
orators do not propose a shutdown. but
they are anxious TO put the issue up to
the mine workers and have the matter
fought out instead of allowing condi-
tons to run along as the mine workers
desire until there comes a time when
their chances of winning a strike would
be better than they are now.
The mine workers want to wait unit
AIril of next year to strike. At tina,
time many bituminous contracts will ex-
pire, and by a general strike they would
have considerable chance of winning
what they now demand