The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-04-04
men LEAVE WORK,
SUSPENSION WILL
END IN FEW DAYS
Most of Large Manufacturers
Have Supply on Hand That
Will Run Them for
Weeks.

49, H9- ma
Scores of thousands of coal
miners quit work today in the an
thracite fields Of Pennsylvania and
in the central competitive fields
of the bituminous portion of the
industry. Officially the movement
is a suspension" of work, and
whether it is to develop into a
a widespread strike, depends up
on the outcome of voting in the
union ranks and of conferences be-
tween the men and employers
within the next 10 days.
Anthracite men are more appre-
hensive than their bituminous
brethren, as to the outcome. This
condition is predicated on the fact
hat there is no definite agree
ment Immediately in sight for the
hard coal men, whereas the BIZ
luminous conference at Cleveland
adjourned after the mems repre-
sentatives had abandoned prac-
tically all their demands, except
for increased wages, and on this
point modified their terms CON
siderably.
The union men are to take a
referendum vote at once as to
whether the modified terms for a
new wage agreement are to be
accepted and there is a general
feeling that the result of the bal
lot will be a return to work.
Upon the outcome Of the so, voting in
prising Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
and Ilinois-w1ll depend also the
basis for new wage scales in ether sec
lions Of the country where the present
agreements do not expire until May l
or later.
Southern and southwestern mines
and the comparatively few in the
Rocky mountain states are affected by
this status of affairs.
West Virginia and Kentucky bitumi-
nous fields will not be greatly affected
unless the present suspension" be-
comes a strike. Nonunion 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 di-
rectly affected today and some 800, 600
more scattered throughout the coal dis
tricts Of the country are watching the
outcome of the suspension" for its
possible effect upon their own wages
and working conditions. 1t probably
will be at least 80 days before all
mines will AVE resumed if the refer
endum votes INC conference result
favorably and the last 10 days of that
period may present a problem as to
fuel supply to industries Of all char
acters.
$50 MINES IN ILLINOIS
ARE DESERTED OF MINERS
Chicago, April 2.-Forty Thousand
miners and ESQ bituminous mines in
Illinois are idle today as a result Of the
expiration of the wage scale agreement
at midnight Sunday.
Operators said today that the stock
of bituminous coal at the different
mines and at the yards of dealers would
not last more than two weeks, and
notes warning to be as eco
nomical as possible in the use of fueI
We're sent to every city in the state.
All the railroads have planned to re
duce their service wherever necessary
in order to make their supply of coal last
until the operation of mines is re-
sumed.
ANTHRACITE MEN CELEBRATE
THE NEW ElGHT-HOUR DAY
Philadelphia, April 2.-"Eight houl
day was observed by anthracite min
ers today and there was a complete
shutdown throughout the hard coal re-
glons About It's, 900 men are idle
Some years ago the union bituminous
miners in the west won an eight-hou1
day., and ever since it has been the Gus
tom to observe hat victory on April l
the day the ei~ght-hour agreement went
into effect. The anthracite mine work
orc h1In hnn,. ', ~, I,p~ Co.. -
working DAY for 10 years, but the best
they have secured thus far is a reduc-
ton from 10 to 9 hours a day.
Inc real test as to whether the
unions suspension order will be fully
obeyed will come tomorrow. The unior
leaders express confidence in a com
plete suspension until a new agreement
IS entered into by the men and the op-
orators.
Indianapolis, Ind, April 2.-Exccp
for a few bumpers n other men en-
p!oyed to keep the property in shape
the luminous coal mines of Indiana
are deserted today, and they will re.
main IDLE until the 10000 miners re.
ceive notice that the wage scale agreed
to at Cleveland has been ratified at Z
referendum vote. Miners and operator,
!. Of this. the Eleventh district of thu
United Mine Workers OF America. de.
clare that the contract will he ratifaf
1 ~ $50 AiAHOtS Nolc.
Business in ndian will not be ham.
pered as large manufacturers have lait
in large supplies Of coal to last Their
for several weeks.
Will Ballot at Once.
Ballots for the referendum vote b,
5 the bituminous miners, it is said. viii
: be sent out from the national miners
headquarters in this city as soon as tn,
national president, John p. White, anc
> the other officials return here from
] Cleveland. 1t will take more than two
: weeks to take the vote, as not ali O.
: the locals meet every week. 1t will re.
5 quire some time to canvass the vote
u so the bituminous miners are not ex.
e pected to resume work much under E
e month.
J Now that the bituminous miners anc
operators have agreed on a wage con
: tract for the next two years. It is be
lieved the anthracite controversy vii
soon be settled when the miners an,
DnHK ICI ANTI