The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-03-31
NO RESPONSE TO
CALL FOR MINERS
Southwestern Coal Fields Employing
25,ooo Men And Producing 100000
Tons of Coal Annually, to Close.
BY Associated Press.

by ASbOCldleu fTebS.
Kansas City, Mo-, March 31.-This
evening the whistles o. 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 employ
about $4,000 men producing 10000, 900
tons of coal annually, and is COM
posed of the states of Missouri, Kan
sas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The
closing down of 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.
The operators hold that they cannot
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
ped into their territory by the west
ern 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.
It was rumored that the operators
had offered the miners five per cent
increase, but this was emphatically
denied by the operators.
In the east what is known as the
central comparative field, came nearer
getting together with the miners than
in any other part of the country. The
central competitive field is composed
of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana.
Last year the government forced
the operators of Pennsylvania to
change from using black power to a
permissible powder known as car
bonite. The miners were paid on a
lump basis for their work, and they
claimed that the carbonite made less
lump and consequently less pay for
them. 1t was on these grounds that
the Pennsylvania operators were in
favor of five cent increase to offset
the loss in wages caused by the use
of the new powder called carbonite
Ohio also offered an increase of five
cents. Indiana offering an increase
of cents per ton and an increase
equivalent to IL per cent for in.
side labor and yardage and the same
equivalent increase for outside labor
All of these offers were rejected by
the miners in the joint convention at
Cincinnati, which has just come to a
close, resulting in shut down OF
the mines all over the country where
union men are employed the first OF
the month. In the convention at Gin.
cinnati, Ohio opposed an increase at
all times. The operators of the South
western fields say that they are well
prepared for shut down. Railroads
and large consumers assert they are
prepared and the operators say they
are prepared to take care of the small
consumers from their stocks.
The railroads, the biggest users OF
coal, have been storing car load after
car load in all available places. The
big manufactures and steam users also
say they have an ample supply, while
the operators themselves have been
running their mines to full capacity
and storing their surplus.
No immediate effects of the strike
will be felt for want of fuel. at least
for sixty days, the operators say.
The operators say that it is impos
sible for them to meet the increase
asked for by the miners, unless they
quit business and unless the miners
return to work on the old basis the
mines will remain closed.