The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-31
To ReachsAr1 Agreement
the Cincinnati Joint
Convention Adj
journs.
But Indications are That
Settlements Will Be
Reached in the Dis.
tricts Except Pennsyl-
vania and Illinois Soon

After being III session for over two
weeks in Cincinnati, the Joint Convention
Of miners and operators of the country
adjourned, Tuesday, without reaching an
agreement.
In discussing the situation after the ad-
journmcnt, President Tom L. Lewis said
Failure to reach an agreement in the
rl state joint convention will have no
serious effect on the mining industry Of
the country.
" The threatened strike, involving half
a million mine workers, won It take place,
There may be temporary suspensions in
some OF the districts until such time as
wc are able to reach the operators and ex-
pIaiM the situation.
The larger part of the tonnage rep
resented by Ohio operators will be signed
up within Il week. This will also apply
to many otelr districts.
:" The situation in Illinois and, West
crn Pennsylvania may be somewhat com
phcat"d for a couple of weeks Non
union operators of Central Pennsylvania
have already posted notices for the ad-
vance, and mine owners in Irwin district,
east of Pittsburg, will have their notices
up on Friday. This will also be true of
the non-unon operators OF the greater
portion of West Virginia.
:" 1t IS to be regretted that the inter
stat" joint movement was dissolved with
out reaching an agreeemnt for Western
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana Inter
ia nj; ia, =;
ators' as well as among the mine work
''s caused the disagreement
The terms proposed by the miners for
til" continuation of work after the expir-
alton of the present agrceemnts on mid
night tonight admit of no compromise, so
lar aS increased wages are concerned On
al other questions, however, there is room
i"r compromise and general trend of the
opinion among men and employers is that
no lengthy suspensions will result except
in a few fields
III" most threatening aspect overshad-
o"S the Pennsylvania and Illinois situa-
tions
IN Pennsylvania there can be no new
contract short of settlement of the con
'F"Nersy over new explosive laws Of that
state and in Illinois the old problem of
payment for services of shot frers looms
Ul' rs Il possible barrier to a peaceful set
'"mcnt
Both tl'ese questions were brought up
on tine floor Of the convention, but where
rs u positive declaration was adopted on
The former question, the Illinois miners
"r'" not allowed to put the convention on
record as supporting or rejecting the jus
ne" of their grievances
briefly, the miners demands are that all
operators agree to pay the increased wag
IS "f iiv" cents ton in pick mined screen
coal with lroportionate advances for 9th
'' methods of mining and outside labor,
~ Il ir"IuIsltc to other negotiations on
other quetsons.
'''f' advance on pay assured, work
may hc continued in the mines affected
i'h''hI tn" solution of the minor points,
NF''"i"i tn" national executive board of
'.' 'ht"n approves the action to this eff
'"' NT its district officers.
Do" atlonal board is made the final
'""Nr. So far rs the union is concerned,
'"i ' rs expressly forbidden to modify
"a-e demands.
"Is also announced by President
.''.~ mat the proposition adopted by
..' ."n'"ntion is not to be construed as
~ contracts which do not expire
"tt"r April list.
s. 'f"H'sIon that agreements may be
H y states, districts or groups of
"'Ii, it is thought, have n like
-"i effect in Ohio and Indiana. On
'"W operators n these states are
.. +" be determined to hold out
'e' an advance and President Lewis
.'H that the provision was inserted
-T.F'nt the whole state being tied up
. "hstinacv'' of few mine own
'@'lnh"rs of the national executive
~" sill have their Instructions as to