The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1912-03-25
Bitiuminous Miners Await Ac-
ton Of Workers in Anthra-
cite Fields Confer
ence Tomorrow
WAGE AGREEMENT
MUST COME SOON
Or Vast Army Of Mine Opera
tives VIII Quit Work Old
Agreement Expires April
l-Employers Firm


Cleveland March "a crisis in
the coal situation, determining wheth-
er more than 100000 miners in the mi
luminous and anthracite fields Shall
strike on April Or suspend until
wages can be determined upon, is at
hand
I Members Of the executive board and
policy committee Of the United Mine
Workers Of American began to arrive
here Sunday to prepare to draw UP
recommendation for a referendum
vote by the union. They viii not act,
however until after operators and
miners Of the bituminous fields Of
western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois, at their session here
Tuesday, have decided whether they
can agree on a two year wage scale.
The unior officials action on the IN
ability Of the anthracite operators and
miners to agree win be delayed until
the outcome Of the biturminee1ss sca
ference is known.
John White. president OF the union,
. and the district presidents sunday
7 considered a proposal that the bitum-
( nous miners drop all their demands
except for that Of an increase in pay
r and ask for five per cent instead Of
ten. The committee promise was not
}, definitely agreed upon but 1t will be
; considered as possibility in view Of
q the emphatic stand taken by the oper'
n ators that they were inclined to yield.
It was proposed that the single sug-
gestion for a five per cent increase be
considered by both sides before it was
taken into conference. Even II this
plan was agreed upon, it was declared,
it still would have to be adopted by
n the policy committee and then sup
ported by a referendum vote,
Whether the 10000 union coal min
ers OF the United States will quit work
and cause the mines to be shut down,
= probably viii not be decided earlier
than a few days beforo April /, when
the present wage agreements expire.
~ Officials of the o,'nors union have
IN decided TO take no action on the wage
h. dispute oi The aathiacite nners until
IL after the differences Of the hinmin-
Gus coal miners have brought about
either a settlement or a disagreement
n This means the situation win remain
ef unsettled until aftef Tuesday.
y The bituminous miners are asking
en- for 10 per cent Increase ia 1ay with
'e- reduction in hours; the anthracite min
ers are asking tie same arraagement'
~ and in aldition wan lateral change;
ne in working ccnditiors. including recog
III milton Of the union AMI me abolition
A' Of ali Intermediates between miners
= and employers. Tne union is endeav
oring to negotiate the demands o
each class OF miners separately. Tn
OF operators assert that the increasei
pay asked for would augment hi
1a mines payrolls more than s6O0.00O
NJ week at the minimum.
Tuesday operators and miners o
"a Unanimous Fields Of western Pennsy
% vania Ohio. Indiana aga Illinois VII
ng resume their conference tc Try to prl
OF vent a suspension April I. Every o
fer from each side had been reiecte
- and when the men reassemble The
Is. IN face the same demands that wet
voted down in Indianapolis two montt
ago Several days probably VIII b
taken up to determine whether the
can agree.
For several days the union oiflcia
have awaited news Of steps for a 20
sible reopening Of negotiations b
tween the anthracite operators az
miners, but none came
AS It stands now the executive {
ficials have merely to report to &
anthracite miners that there is !
wage scale upon which To eontlaue q
erations after April 4 = said r. L. Le'
is. former president Of the union Frh
alone determines a suspension.