The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-10-17
CALL COAL STRIKE
"0PEN REBELLION"
Miners in Illinois Quit Because of
Failure of Garfield to Or
der Wage Boost.
SUPPLY CUT $4,000 TONS
Walkout of $4,000 Miners in Four
States Called Off by Union After
Administrator Sends Warn.
ing of Drastic Action.

ing OF DFaStlC Action.
Chicago, Oct. 17.-John E. Williams,
newly appointed federal coal admins
traitor for Illinois, sent a report on the
Illinois coal mine strike situation in
dicating that fully $4,000 tons a day
Of production had been cut off, that
there was fear of the trouble spread
ing and that immediate action was
urgent
The fuel administrator and the
miners union officials joined in de-
claring the situation to be one Of open
rebellion, existing wage agreements
being regarded as scraps of paper"
The trouble was precipitated by the
failure of National Administrator Gar
field to order immediate increases In
Illinois coal prices and Of the mine
operators in turn to put extra pay In
the miners envelopes.
1t became known that q report con-
tanning estimates of the amount which
should be added to the price Of
ton of coal at the mines to cover the
production and should be ready in
day Or two. 1t was said in Washing
ton that the failure to receive this re-
port had made it impossible for Mr..
Garfield to approve the wage agree
ment
Arrangement in Doubt.
Whether an arrangement can be eff
fected which will include an increase
IN the pay check which caused the
walkout Is doubtful, it being said that
the report was predicated on the in
crease becoming effective on next pay
day, November 1. In Washington Mr.
Garfield and his advisers conferred re-
garding the Illinois situation, and ef-
forts will be made at once to induce
the miners to resume work.
,, Waits on Report.
Rough estimates have been made
that 1t would be necessary to raise
the price Of coal at the mines from
30 to 30 cents ton. Until the report
Is made, however, Mr.. Garfield will
have no way of determining the exact
amount.
That he is determined to prevent
strikes if possible was indicated in ac-
ton taken in connection with the situ-
alton in southwestern states. AS soon
as he heard that $4,000 men in the
Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Ar
kansas mine fields were planning to
walk out he sent kilograms to heads Of
local unions declaring that strikes
. must not take place and warned them
I he would use 'every power committed
to him" to prevent them. He urged
them to send a committee to Washing
ton.
This appeal, along with one sent out
by John P White, president of the
National Miners union, ordering the
| men to stay at work, had its effect,
| and the strike was called off.
Message of Garfield.
In his message, Mr.. Garfield said:
II am Informed that the officers Of
your national association have ap-
pealed to you to use every effort in
your power to avert strike at this
time, in view of the national situation
dent Wilson. Strikes must not take
place The terms of the agreement
agreed upon at Washington between
operators and miners are fair.
81 shall use every power committed
to me to prevent strikes and warn you
against allowing the order to stand"
Cutting off $4,000 tons of daily pro-
duction would practically paralyze
the industry in the state, and with
cold weather but a short time off and
manufacturing concerns running night
and day to meet the war order emer-
gency. the situation would become
critical within two or three days time.
Miners Near st. Louis Go Out.
st. Louis, Mo-, Oct. 17.-Miners
struck at several mines near Belle
vile, H., at some Of the mines of the
Southern Coal, Coke and Mining COM
pany, at two Donk Bros mines at
ColliEsville and Maryville, ILL.,, and at
together about twenty mines In the
Illinois field near st. Louis were af
fected.
Ten Thousand Strike In Illinois.
Springfield, H., Oct. 17.-Ten thou
sand miners In central Illinois are on
strike asking ten per cent increase
In wages.
Immediately reports were that the
mines at Belleville and In Madison
county also We're out.
Other States Affected.
Peoria, ILL.,, Oct. 17.-Coal operators
here expected general strike Of
miners In Illinois, Indiana, Pennsyl-
vania and West Virginia, following the
reported walkout Of 5000 miners In
the Springfield district. 1t was expect
ed that the men In the Peoria H.,
pilot would 60. ont hy night.