The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-09-26
Coal Mine Holders Inform
Men Today That Gov
ernment Must Act
GARFIELD LIKELY
TO ENTER FIELD
Miners Want 25 Per Cent
Wage Increase and In
sist on it Immediately
(By Associated Press.)

Washington, Sept. 26.-coaI opsr-
atOrs of Illinois, Indiana. Ohio and
western Pennsylvania, today notified
the miners representatives in con-
ference here that they were unable
TO meet the miners demands for a
wage increase Of about IS per cent,
unless the government reVises the
prices of bituminous coal. IL 10 prob
able that after another conference
between operators and miners late
today, Or. II. A. Garfield, the coal
administrator, will be called in TO
consider the situation.
Washington, Sept. 26.-Immediate
wage increase of from 20 to 20 per
cent was demanded by the country's
coal miners, it was announced last
night after a preliminary meeting of
operators and miners representa-
tives of the central competitive field
in Washington to discuss general
wage readjustment.
The demands will be presented at
a joint meeting today. There is every
Indication that the mine owners viii
refuse fatty to meet them, first. on
the grounds that they are too high,
and, second, that the recent fixing
of coal prices by President Wilson
will not permit of any increase.
The increases asked. while stip-
ulated for the central field, compris-
ing Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and west
ern Pennsylvania, will serve as a
basis for the entire country, and If
they were granted would have to be
met Dy other districts. The demands
are as follows:
Increases of Is cents a ton on pick
and machine mined coal at all bas-
ing points in the United States:
The percentages of increase grant
ed on machine and pick coal to be
applied to all differentials existing
between thin and thick vein mines:
Advances of $3.50 a day for all
men employed in and around mines,
and,
Twenty per cent raises on all dead
work and yarding.
Production Must Not Decrease.
Yesterdays joint conference was
opened with speech by DIR. III. A.
Garfield, the fuel administrator, who
urged both sides to let no differences
stand in the way of capacity produc-
ton Of coal.
Under no circumstances" said
Mr.. Garfield, must we allow produc-
ton to stop. We must put aside for
the time being all questions that
might separate men under normal
conditions and work in the closest
harmony. There must be no suspen-
sion of work"
Request Uniustified.
The miners position was present
ed by John p. White, president of the
United Mine Workers Of America,
who called the conference. Liberal
wage increases, he declared, were
necessary to prevent men from leav-
ing the mines. togo into munitions
and other work which pays higher
wages. Unless wages are raised, he
said, miners will leave for higher
money elsewhere and production OF
coal Immediately will be cut.
The operators, aside from con-
tending that they cannot AFFORD to
nav the increases, declare the de-
mands are unjustif1ed inasmuch as
q. general wage increase was grant
ed last April which was to have
lasted until next March. In addition
they point to an increase given in
April. 1915. which they say was
granted with the distinct under
standing that no more demands were
to be made for period OF two years