The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-10-19
NEW CONTRACTS ID BE ASKED BY MINE
 WORKERS OFFICIALS
Joint Conference Called Be- tween Miners Officials and Coal Operators Who Signed
 Up With the Union

On the face of it a notice jus sent out by the United Mine Workers indicates that the or intends to take III the contracts existing between them and the mines recogniz ing them and to insist on a nev agreement.
 The following call has been issued sued:
 United Mine Workers of America,
 Division No. 20, Alabama, Bir-,
 mingham, Ala, October IA.
 "To all operators in Alabama who
 have signed tentative agree
 ments;
 Gentlemen:
 This is to notify you that a joint conference of representatives of the United Mine Workers of America and all operators, who have signed tentative agreements, known as the Blue Book contract. will meet in the Union Temple, 1S191a Fourth avenue, Birmingham. Ala, Friday, October 22, at 10 o'clock a. m., for the purpose of negotiating uniform wage scale for the entire district, to be effec- tive until March 31, 1922.
 1t is absolutely necessary that a representative of your company be present at this conference.
 Very respectfully yours.
 Van A. Bittner international representative.
 J. R. Kennamer president of District 20.
 J. R. Sorsby, vice president of District 20.
 J. L. Clemo, secretary treasurer District 20.
 w. L. Harrison, international organizer of the United Mine Workers of America.
 Copies of this notice were not fur nished newspapers by the union off cials, and nothing with regard to i was gwen out by any of the union of ficials
 BLUE BOOK CONTRACTS
 The contracts now existing be- tween the union and the operators recognizing the union arc. on their face, in effect until March 31, 1922. Every time the local union officials have been questioned with regard 10 them in the past. the prompt re- ply of President Kennamer has been that "every contract entered into and approved by headquarters is to he kept invfolate."
 This has been generally understoo to mean that the contracts containe all the provisions that would be le quired for their integrity and that l. new conditions would be asked. Tn call issued by the union indicates tha new conditions are to be asked
 One organizer who did not care { be quoted because he did not consiJt himself the official spokesman, sai last night that the object of the ca was to try and effect an arrangemeI by which all contracts would be lil that signed up by Judge Teasley r' gently. This contract relates to tr Belton mines recently acquired | Judge Teasley and who signed wit the union immediately after he had a, quired it.
 BITTNER'S FORECAST
 It is now recalled that in his first speech in Birmingham Van Bittner, international representa- tive, declared that the men at work
 in the Bine Book mines would
 "come when wanted.' It is also recalled that in that speech he named fourteen things besides rec ognition or the union. which he de- ciared the miners would he found asking for.
 He mentioned the check off systen increase in day wages and a numbe of other things not included in th Blue Book. The tone or the call fc the meeting suggests that these thing are to be asked of the operators holt ing Blue Book contracts.
 It is also noticed that the call style the present contract as tentative ones which is the same as to say ,ns they are not complete contrats and al subject to revision, addition, enlarg, ment adaptation. any kind of change. Two of the largest coal operator having contracts with the mine unio were called up last night over Il telephone and asked what they 1T tended doing about the matter Bot said they had not yet received Il notice
 THREATENS STRIKE
 Tn industrial circles the tone of tt call for the conference is interprete as command rather than request fc new agreement and to clearly ind cate that, unless the operators holdin these Blue Book contracts consent certain changes and additions, striI, will also be called at their mines
 News reaching Birmingham la. night was to the effect that strike o, cured Monday at the mine of the Raj way Fuel Company in Walker count This company has Blue Book COT tract. It is understood that a no, union man was discharged, but afte wards was taken into the union i.r his reinstatement asked. This was q, clined and the strike followed It reported that fifty men refused to z out