The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-04-01
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 Associated Press.
Kansas City Mo, March 21.-This
evening the whistles OF the coal mines
OF the southwestern interstate fields
viii 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 $4,000 900
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 aud 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.
II was rumored that the operators
had offered the miners a Ave per cent
increase, but this was emphatleally
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 earbonite made less
lump and consequently less pay for
them. II was on these grounds that
the Pennsylvania operators were IN
favor of five cent increase 10 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 3 cents per ton and an increase
equivalent to 1-2 per cent for In
side labor and yardage and the same
equivalent increase for outside labor.
All of these offers were rejected by
he miners in the joint convention at
which has Just come to
'lose, resulting In a shut down OF
he mines all over the country where
inion men are employed the first Of
he month In the convention at Gin
'innau Ohio opposed an increase at
III times The operators OF the South.
western fields say that they are we'll
prepared for shut down Railroads
md large consumers assert they are
prepared and the operators say they
ire prepared to take care Of the small
consumers from their stocks.
The railroads, the biggest users Of
.oal, have been storing car load after
ar load in all available places. The
zig manufactures and steam users also
Jay they have an ample supply. while
he operators themselves have been
their mines to full capacity,
md storing their surplus
No immediate effects of the strike
viii be felt for want Of fuel. at least
or sixty days, the operators say.
The operators say that It Is impos-
Iible for them 20 meet the increase
'sked for by tho miners, unless they
luit business and unless the miners
'eturn to work on the old basis the
mines viii remain closed
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