Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-31

Cincinnati, March aO-While as re-
suit Of the plan adopted by the coal
miners in international convention
yesterday, there will be no country
wide strike Of bituninous miners,
President Lewis declared today, that
Pennsylvania and Illinois will be COM
pletely tied up" The miners in the
two districts number 100000.
That means fight in two of the
largest bituminous fields Of the Unit
ed States. Pennsylyania's annual pro-
duction Is 150OOO,O0O tons, Illinois
100000 and Ohio 35,O00,O00, the lat
Ter giving employment to $4,000
miners.
Ohio Mines May Stay Open.
4 Lewis said he thought most Of the
Ohio districts will be at work after
April 1 as the operators Of that state
districts under the plan adopted by
the miners convention. All the mines
will be Idle, as usual, April /, the holi-
aay anniversary Of the eight hour day.
Then no miners will return to work
The next day unless ordered to do SO
by district officials. These officials will
hot be allowed to give that order un-
less all the mine owners in the dis
trict or subdistr1ct have signed up
The preliminary agreement adopted
by the convention.
What Miners Demand.
Briefly the miners demands are that
Ill operators shall agree to pay in
creased wages Of cents a ton on
pick mined and screen coal with pro
portionate advances for other methods
bf mining and outside labor, as per-
auisite to other negotiations of other
questions.
With an advance in pay assured,
work may be continued in the mines
affected pending the solution of minor
points provided the national executive
board Of the union approves action to
This effect by district officers.
The national board is made the final
power so far as the union is con-
eerned, but it is expressly forbidden to
modify the wage demands.
Good Effect In Ohio and Indiana.
A provision that agreements may be
Bigned by states, districts or groups
Of districts, may have beneficial ef-
feet on Ohio and Indiana. Only few
operators in these states, it is thought,
will hold out against the advance.
The provision may also work bene-
Totally In the southeastern fields.
Most of the operators have left ex-
eept the Pennsylvania men, and those
that remained expressed satisfaction
with the outlook.
Lewis Takes Cheerful View.
President Lewis said last night:
sThe failure to reach an agreement
will have no serious effect on the min
Ing industry Of the country. There
may be temporary suspensions in
rome districts until we are able to
reach the operators and explain the
situation. The situation in Illinois
md western Pennsylvania may be
somewhat complicated for couple OF
weeks. but am satisfied that every
hing will straighten out without
Serious trouble"
Iowa Miners Mark Time.
Des Moines, March 30.-(specia) )-
The State Miners convention met
md adjourned today without transact
Ing business, awaiting the arrival of
President John P. White from Indian
Apolis tomorrow. The relations be-
IWC0ll tu6 11iASk0 cuu OpOloSOAb al .
friendly and enough men will be given
the operators during the shut down to
commence April 1. to care for the
mines Indications were that the shut
down would last from fifteen to thirty
lays.
lowans Want 10 Cent Raise.
According to the statements Of
prominent delegates Of the miners
nnion last evening. they will demand
Of the operators an increase In wages
,f 10 cents per ton for the screened
pick coal mined with corresponding
Increases for the other varieties.
There is no doubt that the operators
will oppose the proposition, as num-
Der of them have asserted that they
would refuse demand for 5 cent
Increase