The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-09-19


three hundred coal miners-delegates
from Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and
Arkansas to the interstate convention
herewith smiles Of victory on their
faces left room in the Orient Hotel,
where they received their expense
money Sunday and paid their hotel
bills to a busy clerk. 1t was the first
positive evidence that the coal strike
was ended. The interstate conven-
tion of three hundred delegates rati-
fed the contract at 6:30 o'clock yes
terday afternoon
The contract was ratified by the Mis-
souri, delegates-the last district to
ratify-at 4:30 o'clock yesterday aft
ernoon after a discussion of about
seven hours. Immediately the dele
gates went to the interstate conven-
tion at Labor Temple and after dis
cussion of more than two hours, the
convention voted to ratify the con-
tract. The miners will return to work
tomorrow morning at o'clock. It was
feared that all the miners could not be
notified in time to return to work this
morning.
The new contract grants the miners
nearly every point they asked for when
they struck April 1. The miners said
last night chat this was the best con-
tract that ever had been obtained
from the operators. They consider it
to be a great labor victory won with
out violence of any kind or without
breaking the law. The increase in
wages and the arbitration clause are
the features of the contract. The con-
tract specifies an increase of 5.55 per
cent on day work, dead work and
yardage; an increase of three cents
ton on blasted coal and five cents a
ton for pick work. The average
wages of miner were SO day under
the old contract. The new contract
will increase the daily wages to about
1920 day.
The clause about arbitration leaves
all disputes and strikes to an arpitra-
tor. w. L. A. Johnson, labor commits
sioner Of Kansas, was chosen by both
sides to fill this position and has ac
Icepted
The new contract provides that the
operators shall pay penalty of 81 q
day to every miner in their employ fol
every day they close down the mines
except in case of accidents. The min
ers' union is to pay the operators fifty
cents day for every miner for every
day the miners refuse to work ant
shut down the mines. The penaliza
4 tion clause is to be effective sixty
days after the expiration of the con
tract.
The new contract will go to com
mittee from the operators association
and the presidents and secretaries 0
the three mine districts, which include
Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Okla
homa. for final ratification this morn
ling. The contract will be signed b.
this joint committee and then it vii
be printed in booklet form and cop
sent to every miner and operator il
the four states. The contract will b.
, effective until April 1, 1912.
The strike was started April |, whel
more than thirty thousand miners re
fused to return to work because tn
operators would not grant them the II
crease they asked. Since then numel
ous conventions have been held i
Kansas City in an effort to settle tn
strike. Thomas L. Lewis. presiden
of the United Mine Workers of Amel
ica, was here more than a month /
conference with James Elliott, pres
dent of the operators association. tr,
ing to frame a contract. Then th
miners became dissatisfied with tn
slow progress and dilatory method
of Lewis, so they appointed a confe
epce committee to meet with lik
committee from the operators to dra'
up a contract.
Nearly three weeks ago this joir
committee finished the contract an
then It was submitted to the distrit
committees for their approval. Th