The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-03-31
100000 MINERS
STRIKE TONIGHT
Will Cease Work at Midnight at
Expiration of Present Wage
Contracts.
DEMAND INCREASE OF WAGES
Again the Bituminous Goa! Fields of
America Will Be Scene of Mighty
Struggle Between Operators
and Laborers.

Indianapolis, Ind, March 31.-The
two hundred thousand organized min
ers i'm the bituminous coal fields of the
United States will strike at midnight
tonight and stay away from the mines
until the operators consent to pay an
advance i'm wages of five cents a ton,
according to an announcement today
from the headquarters of the United
Mine Workers of America in this city.
President Lewis said this morning
he had no information that the miners
and operators i'm any district would get
together today.
Members of the executive board
leave tonight for their respective dis
trlcts TO represent tho national admin
istration in the direction of the local
strikes. President Lewis will visit the
Illinois field tomorrow and does not ex-
pcct To return to his office here until
Saturday night.
Officials Make Statement.
Des Moines, Iowa, March 31.-The
Iowa operators it is statos are ready
To grant the increase of five cents ask
ed by the mine workers. The opera
tors at least have indicated to the
state mine officials that they are will
ing to treat with the men upon favor
able terms to the miners. Every mine
i'm Iowa will suspend this afternoon
when the present wage scale expires.
All Mines Not Affected.
nj mi
ern Brick company of this city which
mines its own coal and employs sever
al hundred men, received permission
today from the United Mine Workers
of Illinois to continue mining with its
present force 1clding the signing of
now wage cssilract. The Hegeler
Plant at LaSalle, will also be permit
ted to mine for its own consumption
The Bunsen Coal company. controlled
by the Illinois steel company is en-
dcavoring 10 obtain permission to con-
tinre operations. This company has
rot 6 pound Of coal i'm reserve and one
OF the officers stated that unless they
secured permission To continue mining.
the steel mills at South Chicago will
be compelled to shut down.
Leave Mines This Afternoon.
st. Louis, March 31-The Illinois
miners leave the mines at 1880 this af-
ternoon and will not re-enter them un-
I'll q new wage scale Is signed. a
meeting of the joint scale committee
of the operators and miners will be
held Monday. The operators say they
have enough coal on hand to last two
months. The increase of wages de-
manded by the Illinois miners totals |
$l4,OOO,OO6.
Short Strike Expected.
Pttsburg. Pa, March S1.-At mid !
night tonight, forty thousand union
members will strike. At that time the
wage contract expires and as yet the
operators have not signed new agree
merts for the ensuing year. I Is be-
lievcd. however, the strike IL his dis
trlct will be cf short duration.
Lorain, Ohio, March S1.-Through |
the shutting down of large part of
the plant az the National Tub company
today, about four thousand nen were
thrown out of work. The company
says the shortage i'm he supply 81
coal is responsible foi the enforced
idleness.
Concessions Are Refused.
New York, n. Y, March 3l.-Tha
Erie railroad company today offered all
its employees, now receiving under $500
per month, an increase of six per cent
in their wages provided the original
demands made by the men be with
drawn. Representatives of men re
fused.
Springfield, H., March 31.-Duncan
Mcdonald, president OF the Illinois
miners, does not think the shut down
or the mines will be of long duration.
A meeting with the operators will be
held soon when. Mcdonald believes,
an agreement will be effected.