The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-03-31
WILL MEN
RESPOND To
WHISTLE !?
COAL MINE INDUSTRY ON
EVE OF GRAv
EN- ERGENCY
SOUTHWESTERN FIELD
WILL Be Affected
Miners Demanded Wage In
crease Which Operators
Refused to Grant
(By Associated Press.)

Kansas City, Mo-, March 31--Thls
evening the whistles Of the coal
mines Of the Southwestern interstate
fields will call the men to work,
but the men in all probability will not
respond. as they have asked for an
increase in wages which the operators
say they cannot meet.
The southwestern coal fields en-
ploy about 25,000 men producing 49,.
100000 tons Of coal annually, and Is
composed of the states Of Missouri,
Kansas, oklahoma and Arkansas The
closing down o. the mines of the
Southwestern fields is not lockout,
say the operators, as they are willing
to continue the contract made with
the miners two years ago.
Why Increase Was Refused
The operators hold that they can
not grant the increase asked for by
the miner because OF competitive fuel
in the shape Of fuel oil and gas, and
also the fact that coal is being ship
ned into their territory by the West
esfi and Eastern non-union fields.
A Joint convention of the miners
and operators OF the interstate Fields
was held in Kansas City last month
and no agreement was reached
Il was rumored that the operators
had offered the miners a five per
cent increase, but this was emphatic
allv denied by the operators.
In the East what is known as the
central competitive field, came near
er getting together with the mineis
than in any part of the country. INC
central competitive field is composed
OF Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.
In Central Field
Last year the Government forced
The operators of Pennsylvania to
change from using black powder to q
permissible powder known as car
bonite. The miners were paid Oh
ump basis for their work, and fney
claimed that the carbonte made less
hmm and consequently less pay Tor
them. II was on these grounds tha'
the Pennsylvania operators Were ~
favor Of a five cent increase to oIise'
The loss in wages caused by the use
of the new powder called csrDonlte
Ohio also offered an increase OF I'VE
cents. Indiana offering an increase
of z cents per ton and an me- ease
equivalent TO 3 IL per cent tor lnsld'
labor and yardage and the same
eouiyalent incsease for outside labor
All of these offers were rejected
by the miners in the Joint convent'oi
ai cincinnati. which has just come I,
q close. resulting in shut down o.
mines all over the country where
uniop men are employed the flrst o
the month.
Anticipated A Shut Down
The operators of the Southwestern
fields saw that they are well pfepaf
% for n shut down. Railroads ah'
lsree consumers assert they are pre-
nared and The operators say they ar
nrepared to take care OF the SINAI
consumers from their stocks.
Tbe railroads, the biggest users Q
coal have been storing car load a'
ter car bad In all available places
Tho hie naruiactors and steam user
a,.o cav they baye an emple supply
while The operators themselves nav
haan running their mines TO lull Gu
naeltv and storing their su plus.
No immediate effects ot the s,flk
w,l, he felt for want of fuel. at leas
for sixty days, the operators say.
The operators say that It IS impol
chile for them to meet the increas
asked for By the miners. unless .ne
oult business. and unless the mn
ers return to work on the old bas'
the mines will remain closed.