The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-30
MINERS
ATTITUDE
THREATENS
a---~-~s
@ My IMMEDIATE IN
CREASE IN WAGES WILL
PREVENT STRIKES
PRESENT AGREEMENTS
EXPIRE THURSDAY NIGHT
Terms Proposed Admit Of No.
No Compromise on Wage
Demands

Cincinnati, March 30 Only imme
diatc increases in wages win pre-
vent numerous and widesprpe =
strkos In The hitumlnous coal mines
of the country, according to the ac-
li0n Of the special convention 81 The
United Mine Workers OF America here
following the final dissolution az the
Joint conference Of TIE central com
pettiye field,
The terns proposed BY the miners
for The continuation OF work after
the expiration Of the present agree.
ments on midnight Thursday win al
NIT no compromise as far as wages
are concerned On most other ques.
tons, however, there Is room fui
agreement and the general trend Of
opinion among men and employers
was that no lengthy suspension win
result eXcepi in q few fields
The most threatening aspect rs
oyershadowing the Pennsylvania and
Illinois sections, IN Pcnnsylvapin
there can be no new contract short Of
q settlement Of the controversy over
he new explosive law Of that state,
and IN Illinois the old problem Of pay.
ment for The services or shot flrefs
looms up as q possible barrier to
peaceful settlement
Both questions we're brought up on
The floor OF the convention, bui
whereas positive declaration was
adopted on the former. the Illinois
miners were not allowed 10 put the
convention on record MS supporting oe
rejecting the justice Of their grlev.
ances
Briefly, The miners demands are
that all operators agree to pay the
increased wages Of five cents ton
on pick mined screened coal, with
nfonortionate advances for other
methods Of mining and outside lahoe
as Prerequisite to other negotlas
tions on other questions.
With advance in pay assured, work
may be continued IN the mines af-
fected pending solution Of the mino'
points provided the national execu'
tive board Of the union approves ae
tion to this effect by The district
officers.
The national hoard Is made the
final power 80 far as the union "
concerned but II Is expressly forbid
den to modify the wage demands.
n was announced by President =
T.. Lewis That the proposition adopted
by the convention Is not 10 he con
strued as affecting contracts which
do not expiiG until after April ] Iht
announcement precludes immediate
trouble in Montana and Wyoming
Last night President Lewis issue'
a signed statement reviewing the out
look and predicting peace except u
few instances. lie said IN part
"The failure to reach an aereemen
ir The ui-siaie joint convention
which has hoen In session for ihte'
weeks viii have no serious effect o.
the mining industry Of the country
( There may be temporary suspension
IN some OF the districts until we az
able TO reach The operators and eA
plain the situation
The larger part Of the tonnas
repregentcd by the Ohio operator
\ win be signed up within a week. IN
4 situation IN Illinois and wes'er
\ Pennsylvania may be somewhat con
\ nllcated for q couple OF weeks or
little longer. bii J am satisfied 'ha
everything will be straiRhiened ot
without any very serious trouble.
stock gamblers IN coal viii
most disappointed Of all the men wti
tried 70 bring about q strike aifeclin
tho entire country hope that tht
win be required 10 pay the penai'
OF their own folly