Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-30
Walkout is Result Of Disagreement
Of Men and Operators.
DISPUTE ARISES OVER WAGES
Advance Asked by Employees April /
Coidly Turned Down.
BITTER CONFLICT PREDICTED
President Lewis OF Mine Workers
says His Army win Fight UntiI
Victorious or Until Com
pleteIy Routed.

CINCINNATI. March 29.-A declaration
of an Industrial war OF great extent
seemed but q few hours away today, when
ths delegates Of 800 900 union miners OF the
United States met this afternoon to outline
their course as a result OF the sine die
adjournment without agreement Of the
Joint conference Of Ziners and operators
Of Ohio, Indiana and western Pennsylvania.
The adjournment Wis taken following an
all morning discussion and Just after Presi-
dent Lewis of the United Mine Workers Of
North America had declared,
when the miners go into this conflict
it will be fight that win not end until
we are the victors or are completely
routed"
President Lewis gave notice to the oper-
ators that the disagreement and adjourn
ment OF the Joint convention meant the
withdrawal Of all demands by the miners
and that II the miners are successful In an
open conflict they win demand even more
than a 10 per cent advance in wages and
also added improvements in working con-
ditions,
''of course" he added, ''if we are losers
in the fight we shall expect the operators
to make the terms
Illinois Mines Close Thursday.
ST. LOUIS. March 29.-Mines which pro-
duce 100000 tons Of coal annually in
Illinois will close down Thursday night, as
the operators agreement with the men ex-
pires on April l. Negotiations toward a
new contract viii begin in Chicago next
Monday, when the scale committee OF the
operators and miners meets.
Illinois Coal Mine Operators association,
who is authority for the statement the
mines will close. said today no shortage
Of coal will exlst II the mines do not re-
open for two months.
If the miners and operators had agreed
at Cincinnati today the mining rate and
the day wage for Illinois would have been
settled, but an agreement on local condi-
ttons would have to have been threshed
out This usually requires three weeks
time
No Agreement in Southwest.
KANSAS CITY. March 29.-No agreement
is in sight between the Southwestern Coal
Miners association. including Missouri,
Kansas and Oklahoma, and the miners OF
those states. on the wage question. accord
ing to local authority, and general
strike is expected on April L
Iowa Miners Wait.
DES MONIES. Ia, March 2a.-tspeciaI
Telegram. THE state convention of miners
and coal mine operators in session here to-
day did little but await news Of the pro-
ceedings in Cincinnati. When the news was
received that the convention there had dis
solved without reaching an agreement as
TO the wage scale IL was Announces thai
on Thursday all the Iowa miners would
cease work until the wage matter could be
adjusted. President White Of the coal min
ers of Iowa has been attending the Gin
cinnati convention and he is expected TO
Immediately come here and assist In the
settlement OF the wage question. Tomorrow
evening President White will address a
meeting arranged by the trades and Labor
assembly for a statewide rally OF labor
ing men. and following this there win be
meetings every day for a week to arouse
interest in labor questions and organi-
zation.