The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-09-26
COAL MINERS
ASK INCREASE
Raise Of 25 to 20 Per Cent. to
BE Demanded Of Opera
tors To-day.
Special DsspotcA 10 Tns sux.

"AsHINoToN, Sept. 25.-Demands for
,, wage increases ranging from rs to 70
per cent. were framed here to-day by
representatives Of the coal miners in the
central held. The miners Of the central
field speak for those Of all the United
states. since the wages in all other dis
tricts are governed by those adopted in
the central field, which comprises the
mines OF Ohio, Indiana. Illinois and
western Pennsylvania. The demands
will be presented tomorrow morning to
representatives of the operators who
have been here in conference with the
miners. The operators, when they
learned tonight Of the extraordinary
raises demanded by the miners. branded
them as unreasonable. unjustined and
impossible Of fulfilment.
1t was said that should the operators
be forced by the emergency of the stu.
alton to grant wage increases there
would be necessary an immediate read
1ustment OF the coal prices set by Presp-
dent Wilson to absorb the added ex-
pense to the operators and to permit
them to continue business
Substance Of Demands.
The demands OF the miners provide an
average Increase OF about as per cent
for the miners who are working on the
tonnage basis. For those working by
pected ranging from 43 per cent. to 70
per cent. The specific demand of the
miners follow:
l. An increase Of Is cents a ton for
pick and machine mining at all basing
points.
2. The percentage Of advance granted
In machine mining to be applied to all
differentials existing between thick and
thin veins.
3. An advance Of 81. a day for all
day men.
I. A 20 per cent. advance on all yard
age and dead work.
The coal miners chiefs who framed
the demands are the same men who
asked and agreed to a per cent raise
In April, 1916. This supposedly was a
two year agreement but the miners soon
wanted more money. and in April, 1917,
asked and were given a 20 per cent in
crease, this agreement to run until
March 81. 1918. Now. before the latest
agreement has expired, they are asking
another 25 per cent increase on the
ground that the cost OF living has in
creased enormously, that the miners are
being attracted by higher wages In NUM-
tion plants and other war industries and
that the mines In consequence are thou
sands Of men short Of the required labor
supply. The Pittsburg district. for ex-
| ample. was said to be $4,000 men short.
Compromise Proposal Expected,
The operators will confer tomorrow.
IT is regarded as certain that the in
creases will not be granted. The ex-
pectation Is that the operators will offer
a compromise counter proposal There
was talk tonight Of a nation wide strike
II the wage increase proposals were re-
jected, but 1t Is known that the Gov
eminent will intervene promptly II such
q calamity threatens.
Proportionally the greatest increase
asked. however. 10 for the day men. They
get now from sass to $3.50 a day. 1t
is proposed to add $1.e0 a day to the
pay Of each Of them. small minority
who are getting the lower wage would
thus get an increase Of more than 40
per cent. but three-fourths of the men
are getting the maximum and under the
proposed scale would get $3.50. The
average increase Is estimated at about
10 per cent. for this class Of men.
Tho conference OF miners and OPERA
tors was called by John p. White, presi-
dent OF the United Mine Workers Of
America, after similar conference had
adjourned September 6 in indianapolis
at the request Of DR. Harry A. Garfield.
the coal administrator.
DR.. GARFIELD spoke to the men at a
Joint session to-day. urging concerted
effort that there might be no let down
in the production Of coal at this critical
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