The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-01
BIG STRIKE IS ON.
Coal Miners to the Number of
100000 Quit Work.
Organization Leaders Call 1t
Merely a Suspension.
ANEARLY SETTLEMENT
Is Looked for in a Number OF
Districts Affected.
The Southwestern Field Has a
War Fund of 100000.

Indianapolis, Ind. April 1-Cele-
brating today, the anniversary of the
institution of the eight hour day in
the mines oS the country, 100000
oitumtnous coal miners faced an en-
forced holiday of unknown duration.
In many states two year wage con-
tracts expired last midnight and the
miners quit rhe coal pits, demanding
that their new contract must provide
for wage increase of 5.55 per cent
ton on screened coal and an equiva-
lent increase en- run of mine COAL
Conferences between the miners or
ganizations in the several districts and
the corresponding operators associa-
ations have ben arranged. Adjustment
"a the Difficulty may be a matter of
q ks or days. In rhe Brazil block
cces district of Indiana there will not
-~.a suspension of work, for late yes
terday the operators conceded the
higher wage demand CT the miners.
In Illinois ard western Pennsylvania
where the powder question and that of
which party hail pay the shot frers
enter the controversy, there will prob
ably be prc4onged contest. In hun
dreds of meetings in large and small
mine communities where the people
are dependent on the industry assem-
BILE to listen 70 the soeeches of their
union leaders. the strike was the sub
1ect of discussion today
Inc naIlOn1l OInCGrS ana mem D6rS OF
the executive board of the United Mine
Workers of America. who had been in
session at their headquarters in this
city. departed for their respective dis !
tricts late last night.
President 1ewis VIII speak today in !
Murphysboro. Illinois.
800 900 Men Out.
Three hundred thousand organized
miners of the bitumincus coal fields of
Pennsylvania Ohio. Indiana, illinois,
Iowa, MisSour. Kansas. Oklahoma and /
Arkausa quit work last midnight !
pending settlement of a new wage |
scale.
Of1cers of the United Mine Workers /
of North America declared the walk
out was not II strike but merely a sus-
pens N OF wcrk because no wage scale
scale, which expired with the month
of March. TIE miners demand an in
crosse of pay in some instances of five
GEMS ton and in -ther instances
more with certain changes in working
con dltton. Confidence was expressed
by the operators that there would be
of fuel having been stored in antici-
patton OF the walkout. while the
miners predict the suspension will be
cut short by I prompt signing of wage
scales Some operators maintain that j.
the mines may be kept closed for a
month or longer. The condition in
the various states as reported to the
national union headquarters follow:
As 1t Stands Today.
Illinois-eOO mines closed and $4,000
miners out Joint conference on wages u
called fo- Monday in Chicago; opera
tors say men demand increase of ten
months shutdown: two months sup
ply of coal on hand: no immediate coal
famine to Chicago industries.
Indiana-1S.000 miners out, conference
arranged for Wednesday at Terre
Haute.
Pennsylvania-40.o0O men ordered out;
temporary scale expected by Saturday;
settlement of the powder question 10
be held in abeyance.
Iowa-Every mine in Iowa ordered
closed pending settlement of the wage
scale.
Missouri. Kansas Oklahoma and Ar
kansas-Comprising the southwestern I
interstate fields. $4,000 miners quit. {
early settlement expected: miners as {
sert they have $4,000 to fight with
Ohio-AIl miners ordered to quit: efate !
leader declares it is brief suspension;
at Lorain steel plant shut down and 7
threw out 10000 workmen because of
coal shortage.
President Lewis before leaving to
visit the centers of the different mining /
fields. made the following estimate of 7
the number of miners affected bv the |
Suspension of work:
Estimate by Districts
Western and central Pennsylvania S
100000 /
Ohio-47.coo. !
West Virginia-100o0 9
IIlinois--T2. 900. II
IowR-15, 900.
MichigaE-3.0 900. In
Kansas. Arkansas. Texas and Okla t
homa-25 000 {
Coloradc-5,000 n
Western Kentucky-5,000. F
Tot;Ll-S00.000. r
Reviewing the situation Lewis said: I
when the national executive board
adjourned we all felt that the pros n
pect was very satisfactory for the min s
ers. In districts it is now only | f
q question of the miners and c-ers.ors | r
getting down together and talking over n
business. j
''In eastern Ohio where we expected | 7
strong opposition it is reported to US
three OF the largest companies are fl
ready TO sign the contract formulated q
at our meeting at Cincinnati.
'sIn Indiana and the Hooking dis
trfct in Ohio we will reach a settle
snent next week. There probably will
be more difficulty in western PennsyI- u
vania and Illinois where the powder and n
shot frers wage questions are in Z
MINERS QUIT WORK. t