Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-02
M||NESARES SHUT
OOWNAWA|T|NG
v AGE SCALES
Reopening III Anthracite
Fields Depends on Re-
suits Of New Conference
to be Held.
REFERENDUM VOTE
WILL SOON BE TAKEN

Workers in Central Com
petitive District, Which
Rules Iowa, Have Only to
Ratify Proposition.
Scores Of thousands Of coal miners
quit work today in the anthracite 1elds
Of Pennsylvania and IN the centrai
competitive field" OF the bituminous
portion of the industry. Ofhcially the
movement is suspension" of work
and whether It is to develop into a
widespread strike depends upon the
outcome of voting in the union ranks
and Of conferences between the men
and employers within the next ten
days.
Anthracite men are more apprenen-
sive than their bituminous brethren
as to the outcome. This condition is
predicted upon the fact that there is
no definite agreement Immediately In
sight for the hard coal men, whereas
the bituminous conference at Cleve-
land adjourned after the mems repre-
sentatives had abandoned practically
all their demands except for Increased
wages and on this point modified their
terms considerably.
The union men are to take refer
endum ballot at once as to whether the
modified terms for a new wage agree
lnent are to be accepted and there Is
general; feeling that the result OF the
ballet will be IA return to work. !.
Upon the outcome Of the voting ~
Ihe central competitive field com
prising Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
( aud lllinois--will depend also the
4 asis for new wage scales In iowa,
where the mines are now closed and
Iii other sections of the country where
The present agreements DO not expire
until Ma& or later. Southern ana
southwestern mines and the compara'
iyely few in the Rocky mountain
,v(ates are affected by this status OF al
fairs. -
West Virginia and Kentucky bitum.
mons fields will not be greatly affected
srniess the present suspension" be.
comes a strike. Non-union labor pre-
dominates in these mines and the men
In similar situations in the industry
have shown a disposition to continue
at work. Approximately 100000 men
are directly affected today and some
100000 more, scattered throughout the
coal district of the country, are watch
Ing the outcome of the suspension
for its possible effect in their own
wages and working conditions. II
probably will be at least thirty days
sefore all mines will have resumed, II
.he referendum votes and conference
results favoraDly and the last ten days
cf that period may present problem
| as to the fuel supply to industries OF
all character. ....
10000 Idle in Illinois.
Chicago, April Forty Thousand
miners in $50 bituminous mines il
illinois are idle today as result o.
the expiration of the wage scale agree
nient at midnight Sunday. Operators
said today that the stock Of bitumin
ous coal at the different mines and a,
the Yards of the dealers would not last
more than two weeks and notices o
warming consumers to be as economic
al as possible in the fuel, were sem
to every city of the state.
All the railroads have planned to re
5,Ice their service whenever necessary
in order to make their supply of Goa
last until the operation of mines is re
sumed.
EIght.Hour Day. -.-
Philadelphia, Pa, April 1-"Eight
hour" day was observed by anthracite
miners today and there was com
plete shutdown throughout the hare
coal regions. About 175,000 men art
Idle Some years ago the union oltu
minous miners won eight hour da!
+ and ever since 1t has been the custom
to observe that victory on<April l. th'
day ithe eight hour agreement wen
into effect. The anthracite min,
workers have been contending for I
similar working day for the ten year,
"a hut the best they have secured thus
far. is a reduction from ten to nin'
hours day.
The real test as to whether the un
ions suspension order will be full!
obeyed will come tomorrow.
The union leaders express conf1d
ence in complete suspension until I
new agreement Is entered into by tn
men and the operators.
5000 Idle In Michigan.
Detroit. Mich, April 1.-Bituminou
coal miners to the number OF abou
three thousand are idle in Mfchigal
today and will remain out of the work
ings pending the ratification of tn
hew wage agreement.
10000 Out in Indiana.
indianapolis, Ind, April 1.-Excep
or a few bumpers and other men en-
iloyed to keep the property in shape
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