Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-03-24
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New York, March 23.-The coua- try is face 70 face W th the greatest coal strike in it's history. Unless the uaeXDectad happens and the operators and miners arrive at sOMe compromise in the meantime. 17O,0 ,000 anthracite miners W II quit work on Mrch 31, a week from .omorrow. and, according to President John p. White of the United Mine Workers of America. 50O 00a bituminaus. mia- CTS will walk out with them.
 This would result in stepping tho coal supply Of practically the entire world, with the Bri ish and German nationwide strikes simultaneously n progress.
 The demands of the hituminou2 miners will be taken up in all elev- enth-hOur conference which begins in Cleveland on Monday.
 The agreement under which the anthrac te miners have been work ing for the last nine years expires at noon on March 31. If 10 new agreement is reached by 'hat fimo, tha strike will begin automaticall llJ, unless all ne@otiations between tifa representatives of operatora and mln- CTS are trcksn off ent rely before hand, in which case the strike will be directly and definitely ordered by the union officials.
 A coal strike Of only a few weeks would mean the paralysis Of every industry derendcnt upon coal, 1h- clud ng railroads, factories, stea1n- bcHts, electric light power and gas companies. entire cities Will be plunged into darkness and business in general VII come to standSll' In event that the strike should last for auv numbar ,of months, 'he total loss to minors, oper%scTs and buSi- ness in general would amount 10 close 10 the almost unbelievable sum of s100,00o,000.
 All of the demands of the miners for changes in the existing agree ment have been faItly refused by 'n' oneratoYs. who on their part ha!2 offered counter propositions 'if'' amounI practically 10 the same pro visions as the old agreement. The miners demand a twenty per cent ln- crease in wages, recognition ol the uuion and that the operators colleet the union dues from the mlners' pS dedue.s,. .ng them from their wages an eight hour day, guaranteed mn imum wage; payment by Che ton l'- stead of by the carload; abohshhlehl of the Cancellation Board, which 's oomnosed of both miners and opaf- ators. and that the new agreement he for one wear instead of for three' as the operators insis'.
 Conferences between the repre- s9ntafives of miners and operators have not yet been ahandoneu' oo' there is. believed to be practlcaliy II" cb,nco tbat the two sides can come together on the poinss at 1ss"s' President White, of the onlteu Mii'>' Workers, and other representatives, of the miners will confer agah next week in this city with the cohh'ii'- fec of anthracite operators, when lS composed of President George f' Baer, of the Philadelphia & Readl"g (chairman); F. B. Thomas, pfesloeh' of the Lehigh Valley; J. $. IrueS- dale. of the Delaware, Lackawahn' & Western; F. D. UnderWooa' ol 'no Erie; ]. F. Loree, of the Delaware ~ T4hdson; Mornis Williams ol 'io susouehanna Coal Co; Joseph IT. Dickson, of Dickson & Eddy; J. l., Coke. of the Clearfield Coal Co., Az van Markle, of Markle Bros,' lhu"- pendent operators, and Pefy e' Ma deira, of Madeira, HI X O.
 While each side is trying 'o q" range an advantageous settlement oi the issues arising between miho' > both sides are preparing for str hs or suspension of operation on Apts