The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-08-21

day morning when all the miners,
machinists, engineers and pump
men of the lead companies through
out the Lead Belt walked out and
instituted general strike. The
miners unions had been organizing
and preparing for some months to
make demands upon the companies
for an increase of wages, and as has
heretofore been published voted to
strike If their demand were not COM
piled with
The demand made upon the com
panies was for an increase of so,
cents a day all round in wages and
recognition of the union. This
demand was presented to the repre-.
sentatives of the company by com
mittee acting for the unions and
they were given until the 10th to de-
eide and make known their decision
to the committee.
Up to Wednesday of last week no
answer had been made to this de-
mand, but on that day notices were
posted at the shafts Of the st. Joseph
and the Doe Run Lead companies
announcing that an advance of Id
cents day in wages would go INTO
effect on Saturday, August lG, tax
ing no cognizaucc of the committee.
The other companies followed this
policy on Thursday. 1t was geHer-
ally understood TINT the companies
had declared that under no circum-
STAGES would they recognize the
union or treat with the men through
it's constituted agents or committee,
and this act which emphasized that
position was resented by the miners
and made stronger their determinn-
ton to strike.
1t was currently reported on Fri
day that the companies were willing
to meet the miners half way on the
wage increase aud add - cents Il
day to the prevailing wage. That
afternoon an informal conference,
through the Intervention of some of
tho business men of BOnne TerIe,
was brought about between the re-
representatives. Of the companies and
the miners committee, but nothing
came of 1t aud Saturday morning
the miners walked out at all the
mines-Flat River, Desloge, Bonne
Terre and LeadwOOd, all work was
stopped and the mines have since
been filling up with water. Consider
able inconvenience has been occa.
stoned the people living IN these
towns by the shutting off of lights
aud the supply Of water for home
use.
Board OF Mediation and Arbitration
Called Upon.
The State Board of Mediation and
Arbitration was called upon to see
III there was any way by which the
difference between the companies
and their employees might be ad-
justed or compromised, for the seri-
BUSINESS of the strike, not only to
the companies and the miners, but
to the large private business inter
ests throughout the Lead Belt, is
kcenly appreciated. Three members
of the board, &. B. Dysart of Mo.
berly, president; II. f. ChiIders of
Columbia, secretary, and J. G.. Bass
ford of Mexico, arrived here last
Sunday. The other member of the
board, Philip II. Toll of Kansas
City, failed to get here.
The board met Monday afternoon
with the representatives of the com
panies and the miners committee,
bat neither side presented any tang
ible statement of concessions upon
which a compromise might be ef-
fected, and after some prelimary
statements by the attorneys of each
side the board adjourned to Tuesday
afternoon.
On Tuesday afternoon the board
having nothing before 1t to arbitrate,
rendered its good Office of media
tiou, first taking the miners com.
mittee into the grand jury room and
consulting with them. Then the re.
representatives. of the companies were
closeted with the members of the
board, aud then again the miners
committee. What occurred at these
consultations was not made public,
but 1t was rumored that the repre-
sentatives of the company informed
the board that under no consider
alton would they submit to arbita-
tion the question of recognizing the