Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-03-26
Miners AWAIT
OUTC0 ME OF
JOINT MEETING
Policy Committee and .. NJ.
w. A. Executive Board
Postpone Action Until a
New Effort is Made.

Cleveland, O., March 25.-Both the
policy committee and the executive
board Of the United Mine Workers OF
America at meeting here today de-
cided 70 take absolutely no action In
the coal situation at present pending
the outcome of the conference OF the
operators and miners of the bitumln-
GUS field which will be resumed to-
morrow.
White Says Situation is Critical
President John P, White Informed
the union district presidents, who came
from bituminous as we'll as anthraclte
sections, that the situation was crltl-
cal so far as the miners were con-
cerned but he hoped that some means
of averting strike or even pro-
longed suspension after April i, when
the present wage agreement expires
would be devised.
In regard to the 175,000 anthraclte
miners, Mr.. White said the situation
was clearly that no prospects OF set.
tlement were in sight but the adjourn
ment Of the bituminous coal CONFER
ence from last Friday over until TO-
morrow leaves hope that the 35O,OOO
bituminous miners may come to an
agreement. If they do not. the union
oficials pointed out, the recommeqda-
tions concerning both the anthracite
and the bituminous miners will be
alike-ttlat is the policy committee will
inform the union that as no wage
agreements have been effected to take
the place Of the present ones which ex-
pire on March 3d. suspension of busl-
ness is inevitable and the question
whether the men shall strike will be
put to a referendum vote.
eve thought it best today to defer
action in reference to the anthracite
miners until after the bituminous sit
5uation is cleared one way or the other
said Mr.. White. 'In fact there Is not
much to do concerning the anthracite
miners, except to report to the men
that negotiations have failed. That
in itself makes it clear to the men that
they are not to work after March 81.
Operators May Ask Compromise.
It is doubtful, even if we come to an
agreement in the bituminous fields,
that we can make it effective in time t
avoid suspension"
Il was understood the board con-
sidered proposal that the bituminous
miners drop all their demands except
that for more pay and that they ask
for a five per cent increase instead OF
ten. Such compromise already had
been considered by the district presi-
dents OF the four states directly in
terested without results. 1t was said
the compromise might be suggested
at tomorrow's conference as coming
from the operators.
H@ M Action in New York
New York, March 25.-Anthracite
operators here today awaited with
much interest the result of the deli
berations in Cleveland of the policy
committee of the United Mine Workers
OF America, representing both the
anthracite and the bituminous mine
workers, which purposes to act on the
refusal of the demands of both the soft
coal and hard coal dealers.
While the operators are giving out
no information it was learned that in
fuences were at work to force them
and their employees to come to some
agreement The operators have heard
unoff1cially that the hard coal miners
would be satisfied to waive most Of
their demands if they could gain an
increase in wages. But to raise wages
the operators say, will make it neces-
sary to increase the price of coal which
they express themselves as being un-
willing to do.