The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1909-11-17


mand on the part OF the miners at
the next joint convention for better
working conditions and possibly bet
ter wage rates"
of the United Mine Workers mad
this statement Monday while in Pitts
burg en- route to Toronto, Can, as
delegate to the annual convention @
the American Federation of Labor.
Asked as to what the probable a
vance in wage rates would be Il
mine workers leader said it was I'd
far into the future to safely predi'
the changes to be asked in workin
conditions.
Things may change before the con-
venton Is held; they may improvev
and may not, but in any event the
national body will adopt policy that
will give ample protection to the min
ers and their families and secure the
best possible concessions from the op-
erators,' he said. "The United Mine
Workers as body has grown in
membership and in power through
the value of experiences of the past"
The fact that the dominant faction
in the Pittsburg district miners or
ganization has been one of the more
active opponents to the reelection of
President Lewis made his statement
concerning his own candidacy the
more interesting.
I'm candidate for reelection, all
right" he said, "and | guess you can
see by my appearance that / am not
worrying much az to the result. Nom
nations in ,the locals all over the
country closed last Friday and the in
dications are most satisfactory. In
fact, | personally believe it is only a
question of majority that will be set
tied when the count begins. However,
| am ready and willing to defer to
the Judgment of the men at work In
the mines to determine this issue
They will do this December A. In
the meantime | shall consider the
many matters that are to be present
ed to the joint convention Of the op-
orators and miners and to prepare to
meet the operators between the con-
vention in January and the expiration
of the biennial scale. April l."
At Cleveland, O., on Nov. s, con-
test over the wage scale between coal
miners and operators in the Pittsburg
bituminous district is forecasted by
statements issued tonight by Presi-
dent F. M. Osborn Of the Pittsburg
Vein Coal Operators Association, and
by President T. l.. Lewis of the Unit
ed Mine Workers OF America.
Mr. Osborn announced here tonight
that conditions will possibly demand
decrease in wages at the expiration
of the present contracts in the spring.
This. following the earlier statement
, of President Lewis in Pittsburg that
, the miners will ask for an increase,
indicates that the lines are already
being drawn for another contest be-
tween the employers and employees.
at will not be possible under pres
, ent conditions for the operators to
consent to an increase in the wage
SCALE" said Mr.. Osborn. Operating
expense must he reduced instead Of
increased. Although there is a great
er demand for coal, the prices are
lower and there Is q shortage of cars,
, which has its deterrent effect on bus
, mess. 1t may be found necessary to
} reduce the scale"
| III is that inc ".
! Frick Coke Company, fuel end of the
| United States Steel Corporation, will
grant an advance of more than 15h
! per cent on present wages for the
, coming year. The advance, restor-
| alton of the wage scale of 1907, the
I highest in history, win be announced
> as a Christmas gift to $4,000 en-
, ployes, with the hope that 5000 emp
. ty places may be filled at better
| wages.
, An increase of sixteen cents on the
/ present estimate production cost OF
1 s1.O4 per ton of coke, is the arrange
!. ment to be submitted. The rapid in
, crease in the price OF coke has made
y this increase in wages possible. The
I scarcity of labor has made it imper-
o ative that the corporation bring its
/ working force up to the standard Of
!. 1907, when $4,000 men were employed
9 all the time.
The H. C. Frick Coke Company is
s admittedly five thousand men short
). Of its requirement, to get out the coke
n demanded by the corporation mills for
! next year. The wage increase, 1t Is
a hoped will draw to the coke region
A five thousand more good men.
Y A great percentage of the foreign
:. element which left the coke regions
for Europe at the opening of the
panic of 1907, has not returned. Near
# ly ali have returned to America, but
). have gone into the west. Industrial
, centers there have offered them in
!. ducements better than the coke max
e ers and they have gotten the men.
9 This is why the Frick company finds
v it imperative to offer additional in
5 ducements to workmen to come to the
i region and assist in getting out the
e coke required.
!. A feature Of this case is that the
!. independent concerns will be forced
4 to follow the lead of the F,rick con
h cern.
Z SPOKANE, Wash, Nov. c. More
I. than $50 members Of the Industrial
s Workers of the World were arrested
g here on charges of disturbing the
e peace by speaking in the streets with
d out police permission. Riots appear
II ed to be imminent during the day but