New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-29
GOAL OPERATORS FIRM;
STRIKE IS IMMINENT
Miners Proposed TO Drop All De-
mands and Ask Only 5 Cents
a Ton Increase.
A CONFERENCE TO-DAY
Unless Agreement Is Reached
A CONFERENCE TO-DAY
Unless Agreement Is Reached
All Negotiations Are Likely to
End and Suspension of
Mining May Follow

Mlnlng way rolloW'
Cleveland. March 2S-Little prospect Of
settling the bituminous coal miners wage
dispute 10 prevent a strike next Monday
and the shutting down Of practically All
mines operated by union men was seen ny
the operators and union officials to-day
after they had conferred for hours and mad
failed 10 agree
The lack OF any steps toward an imme-
date settlement and the fact that only
three days intervene before both the an
thracIte and btumnous wage scales expire
were said 10 make 1t almost certain that a
widespread stoppage OF coal production will
begin next week for an uncertain period.
and strike, involving about FIVE hundred
thousand men. may ensue.
The situation tonight was:
The miners in the anthracite fields OF
Pennsylvania will quit Sunday midnight
because their agreements with the opera
tors expire AT that time, and no now
agreement. even II II were being consid-
cred. could be put into effect in time 20
prevent the suspension. The union OH
Gals declare the suspension virtually VIII
be a strike.
The contracts Of the miners in the btu
minous regions also expire Sunday mid
night. and they probably will suspend he
cause they have 10 new agreement upon
which To continue
Loss of 100000 a Day.
Officials of the union assert II strike in
both classes Of mines IS called II will en-
tail loss in pay 70 the men of approx
matelv 100000 a day
conference held in the hope that a
strike or even suspension in the bitumi-
nous mines might still he averted was with
out result up to tonight. The operators
and miners Of Western Pennsylvania, Ohio
Indiana and Illinois who are trying TO fA
wage and working scale not only foT
their own districts but also aS tho basis
for all other unionized luminous districts
then Adjourned until 2 o'clock tomorrow
morning
TO bring the situation 10 a crisis John
Walker president Of the Illinois miners
proposed that the miners drop all their de-
nands and make a now demand for an In
crease Of cents ton for all coal mined
lie explained his proposal did not come
Jointly from the miners, hut no made II
on his own responsibility "to avoid pro-
longcd Industrial struggle"
The operators part Of the conference then
called for an adjournment, which gave
rise 10 reports among tho miners that tho
operators were going 70 propose com
promise on the basis NJ five cents tor
increase over the present wage scale Tn.
operators after meeting alone stated thcy
had decided to offer no such compromise
but rather 70 stand I'm their original posi-
ton to continue the present scale for two
years and nothing more. That is tho uti
matum they said, which viii he delivered
to the miners AT the maj conference 70.
morrow.
No Further Offer Of Compromise.
II look for 2 breaking off of I'll noEo
tiations to.horrow." said H. VI TAYLOR
president Of tls Illinois operators. "I'
would have come to-day had II not beer
that We did not want n appear - he IN
haste I'm bringing about strike. We vii
offer no further compromise
President John =. White of tho United
Mine Workers Of America said u" h7d
no comment 10 make on today develop
ments other than that II stink" were
called among the bituniuous a. Vel q
among the anthracite miners II 0'nuid not
he because the union had failed n exert
every effort 10 avoid II. TIo added 50 fa'
as the anthracite miners we're concerned
the strike already had been called to take
effect SUNDAY midnight.
The policy committee Of The union Is
waiting here 20 take such action as may
he necessary in case all negotiations are
broken off Iu that event. tho members
say. their work simply viii he ~ devise
WAYS and means i'm connection with INC
conduct OF the strike.
Charles = Noill Commissioner of Lanor
who has been here securing data concern
ing the Brotherhood Of Locomotive En-
eineers on the railroad employees situation
has had no conference with M. White or
with other officials Of the miners union
Mr. White has said he was willing To ad'
yise government officials clearly az ~ the
conditions of the miners. hut he thought
the preseut stage Of the wage dispute did
not call for any assistance from the gov
eminent. II Is known, however. that the
government has been kept Informed on the
progress Of the negotiations
Washington, March 27.-Dr Charles r,
Neil. United States Commissioner Of
| Labor. who is now I'm Cleveland. is charged
with the responsibility Of keeping the fed
oral government in close touch with all
Developments in the coal situation. Presi-
dent Taft, it Is explained, wants authorita-
tive information the moment IT becomes
Il