The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-01
Leaders Say t Is Not a Strike, But Merely 1GTn-
 pOrary Stopping of Work
INCREASE GRANTED IN
 ONE INDIANA DISTRICT
President Lewis Believes That the Operators Will Grant Demands
 in Most Places and Men VIII Soon Go Back to Work

| Indianapolis, March 31.--News of the bituminous miners first victory in their struggle for increased wages was re- l ceived today by the national officers Of the United Mine Workers from Bra zil the center of the Indiana black coal district. At the close of con- ference between the miners and oper- ators of that district it was announced this afternoon that the operators would grant an increase of cents g ton to the miners and that there would be no strike. Another conference to adjust certain working conditions local to the district will be held next. | Encouraged by the concession of the operators of the Brazil district, the members of the miners national execu- tive board continued tonight behind locked doors the discussion of ways and means of conducting the campaign for cents a ton increase in wages | in all the other soft coal districts of | tile country. President T. l.. Lewis said he was satisfied that the suspen- sion of work beginning tonight will continue only few days and that the miners will have little trouble in mak- ing their new contracts with the oper- ators.
 The members of the executive board upon adjournment will go to their re- spective districts to assist in direct ing the strikes. President Lewis will visit the Illinois field tomorrow. l Three hundred thousand miners in the bituminous coal fields of the United States suspended work and demanded higher wages tonight, according to the official statement given out at the headauartets in.. this city of the United Mine Workers of America. Coinci- dentally the national officers of the or ganization who have been in secret session here for two days, departed for their respective states to advise the miners in the district conferences with the mine operators in which 1t is hoped settlements will be speedily reached. President Lewis before leaving to visit the centers of the different mining fields made the following estimate of | the number of miners affected by the suspension of work: l Western and central Pennsylvania, 100000.
 | Ohio, 47,000.
 | Indiana 1S,00G.
 | West Virginia. 10000.
 Illinois, 72,000.
 | Iowa, 15,000.
 | Michigan, 5000.
 Kansas. Arkansas, Texas and Okla homa, 25,000.
 Colorado, 5000.
 | Western Kentucky, 5000. l Total, 300,000.
 Reviewing the situation President Lewis said:
 When the national executive board | adjourned tonight we all felt that the prospect was very satisfactory for the miners In many districts it Is now only @ question of the miners and op- orators sitting down together and talk ing over business. In eastern Ohio. where we expected strong opposition, 1t is reported to us that three of the largest companies are ready to sign | the contract we formulated at our re- cent meeting in Cincinnati. | "In Indiana and the Hooking district of Ohio we will reach a settlement next week. There probably will be more difficulty in western Pennsylvania and l Illinois, where the powder and shot frers wage questions are involved | The Situation in General
 Over two hundred thousand organized miners of the bituminous coal fields of Pennsylvania. Ohio, Indiana. Illinois. Iowa. Missouri, Kansas. Oklahoma and Arkansas quit work last Crhursday) night
 l The miners. members of the United Mine Workers of America, declared the walk out was not strike but merely a Suspension of work pending an arrange ment between themselves and the oper- I Ia fo the old scale having expired with the month of March. The men demand an Increase of pay in some instance of , cents ton and in other instances more. lard certain changes in working condi- tions.
 | While the miners predicted the sus- pension would be cut short by prompt signing of wage scales. some of the oper- atcrs maintained that the mines might be kept closed for month or 50 days or longer.
 The conditions in the various states were as follows:
 Illnois-Nine hundred mines closed and To000 miners quit work at o'clock; joint conference on wages called for next Mon day in Chicago: two months supply of coal on hand: no immediate coal famine to Chicago industries.
 lndana-F,iehteen thousand miners or dered to quit work at midnight; confer ence arranged for Monday a; Terre Haute. miners say shut down Will be short-lved
 Pennsylvania a-Approximately 10000 men ordered to quit work at midnight; tenn porary scale. allowing a 5-cent run or mine tons increase hoped to be reached bv Saturday: settlement of the poWdcr question to be held in allowance. | Iowa-Every mine in Iowa ordered closed pending settlement of scale.
 Missouri Kansas, Oklahoma and Ar kansas Comprising the southwestern in- lterstate fields, $500 miners quit: early I settlement hoped for.
 ohio-All miners orderSd to quit stat Headers declare not & stfike, but merely suspenson
 35.OOO Out In Four states
 Kansas City. March sl.--Approximately s5 900 union coal miners today quit work | in the southwestern field. composed of the |