The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-12
225,0OO MINERS
T0STRIKEN0V. 1
Operators Refuse Demands and
Convention Is Adjourned
Abruptly.
GARFIELD PLEA IGNORED
All Coal Diggers in Western
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois Involved.

PHILADM.PHA, Oct. 11.-Coal oper-
ators and miners of the central COM
,etitive field, which embraces western
Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana and Illi-
nois, came to complete break to-day
when the joint wage conference start
falo. was adjourned without an agree
ment having been reached.
John L. Lewis, acting president Of
the United Mine Workers Of America
announced that he would leave for his
office in Indianapolis tomorrow and
Immediately upon his arrival there
would issue an order for a strike of
more than 1000 miners effective
November 1.
This announcement followed the re-
lection by the committee of operators
of the miners demands, which provid-
ed, among other things, for a 60 per
cent. increase in wages, a six-hour
day, five days work a week. time and
half for overtime and double time
for Sundays and holidays.
VIII Issue Call at Once.
II am going home to issue a strike
order" said Mr.. Lewis. "I shall leave
two or three days ! shall issue over my
signature a call for general strike Of
bituminous coal miners for November /.
1 had hoped that the operators would
show some signs of getting together with
US Though we made every effort TO
this end they did not do so and the blame
rests with them
The session here was an adjourned
meeting after the conference in Buffalo
had resulted in a deadlock. The
operators from first to last maintained
that they could not agree to the de-
mands OF the Cleveland convention and
the miners declined to ofrer any other
proposal.
The operators contended that the pres
ent wage scale could not be abrogated
legally. and In this position they were
supported by DR.. Harry A. Garfield
formerly United States Fuel Admins
traitor. In a letter read at the conference
ment made in Washington early in 1918
was to continue in force until peace Is
declared. or until March 81. 1920"
The operators agreed and shortly af-
terward issued statement in which
they said:
THE demands were extravagantly ex-
aiu nd af
AN effective and entirely fair wage
scale Is in full force and effect until April
/, 1920. or until peace Is promulgated.
The public, through the Government,
was third party to the present agree
ment. and in the absence of and without
the consent Of the tn I'd party the opera
tors had no right to consent to the arbi-
trary abrogation of the existing con-
tract. nor had they the right to agree to
new contract which would double the
cost of coal and restrict the output:
| THE operators offered to continue un-
der the present contract until April /.
1920. and in the meantime to negotiate
| a new contract, to become effective upon
the termination OF the present one.
THE whole situation is one OF the
miners making"
| Statement of the Miners.
| Representatives of the mine workers
issued a statement in which 1t is said:
1.-The United Mine Workers regret sin
cerely that the joint wage conference has
broken up without negotiating a new
agreement. We have made every posi-
BILE effort that fair men could put forth
We feel. therefore. that the operator,
| are entirely responsible for the breakinl
up Of the conference. and We trust tina
4 the Amariran nuhlic will undaraf M thi