Omaha daily bee., 1912-03-20

CHICAGO. March is.-The Record
Herald today says:
President Taft may take a hand in
the coal situation ito avert q strike in
the anthracite fields I.
alarmed over the political possibili-
ties Of a general strike OF coal miners,
the president Is said to be preparing to
follow the precent established by his
predecessor in office In 1909 and bring
pressure on the anthracite coal operators
20 make concessions In the interests of
peace. To gain information on the sub
ject President Taft has called John
Mitchell, former president Of the United
Mine Workers. to Washington for a con-
ference"
II was said that even IL the miners and
operators OF western Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois at their conference
at Cleveland tomorrow decide to come
TO an ,amicable arrangement 1t will be
impossible to draw up the terms Of two
year agreement by the first OF the month
and that therefore a suspension OF busl-
ness, IL not strike, was inevitable.
C. L. McLauglin, secretary Of the as
sociation. declared that 10000 miners in
the -four states alone would be affected.
AS at least six other oklahoma
Kansas. Arkansas. Missouri Iowa and
Michigan-use the agreement In the four
mentioned states as the basis for their
contracts. Mr. McLauglin said. practically
Abe entire bitumInous coal field. with
10000 men involved, would face a sus-
pension OF business.
Neither the miners nor the operators
would be willing to operate without an
agreement, even IL the miners show
disposition not 10 strike. How long bust
ness win be stopped cannot be prophe.
sled.
I'm our, div<<lcs, she--s,iner. sftscted'
will bel Illinois. 7oooo; Indiana, 1900;
Ohio. esoo. and the rest in pennsyl-
vania"
The above statement was made by II.
Taylor. president Of the association, be-
fore leaving Chicago for Cleveland TO at
tend the conference there. Mr.. Taylor
also said the union was asking for 10 PEI
cent increase in pay with a reduction of
working hours which amount TO another
10 per cent increase in wage cost. He
said the operators were determined not
TO yield 10 these demands.
Suspension viii Ne short.
NEW YORK. March 1s.-There was
subsIdenee OF the anthracite strike scare
today, and in consequence there was
falling off in the pressing demand for
hard cold from frightened consumers.
The belief is gaining ground that both
sides will reach an agreement and that
IL there is a suspension Of work on April
!. 1t will not last long. The operators
say they are ready TO confer with the
men on any reasonable proposition and
consider the situation from all angles.
There are also reports from the hard
coal region that the miners officials are
ready TO meet the operators half way.
The report from the west that Presi-
dent Taft may be asked to take hand
in the situation TO avert a strike was
read with interest. but there was no
comment made by the operators.
Meanwhile the operators are said to
be doing nothing toward preparing for
a strike. Local hotels. hospitals and
transit lines are well stocked with coal
in preparation for long strike.
soft Coal Miners Guilt April First.
CHICAGO. March 1s.-Announcement
was made from the Illinois Coal Opera
tors association today that IT would be
practically impossible for miners and
operators in the bituminons fields TO
reach a new agreement By April ! and
that a suspension on that date was GER
tain.
wage Bul introduced.
LONDON, March 1s.-Premisr Asquith
today introduced in the House OF Com
mons the coal mines bill. whose in
tention is to establish fixed minimum
wage for underground workers.
The premier explained that the meas
ure was only a temporary one, whose
specific purpose was to settle the present
difficulty in the coal trade In Great
Britain. The enactment will therefore,
be effective for only three years. unless
the coal industry, wishes to prolong it. a
reasonable minimum wage for the min
ers, with safeguards to protect the own
ers against slackness and deficiency Of
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