Arizona republican., 1922-03-11
UNION OFFICIALS CLAIM
MINERS VOTE GIVES BIG
MAJORITY FOR STRIKE
Leaders Declare Nine-tenths Of Ballots Cast
In Vote Completed Last Night Authorize
Nation Wide Strike April Unless Coal
Operators Agree To Wage Conference
Republican A. P. leased wlrel

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March 10 .---
The strike vote of soft coal miners
was completed tonight by local
unions scattered throughout the
country and. though the exact re
turns will not be known for a week,
officials Of the United Mine Workers
Of America here believed that nine
tenths or more OF the workers cast
their ballots for a walkout on April
/, unless a net wage agreement is
made in the meantime.
Chances OF getting a conference
with the operators of the central
competitive field, comprising Western
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and MI
nois, seemed remote to the union Of
ficials, for change in the attitude OF
operators opposing an interstate con-
ference result from the appeal OF
Secretary OF Labor Davis, asking the
two sides to get together. The only
possibility Of a conference as viewed
by union officials was for the govern
ment calling both operators and min
ers to Washington. but no one at
union headquarters had any infor-
nation that such a call was con-
templated.
What may happen In the Penn
sylRania anthracite field depends on
the outcome of the meeting between
union officials and operators at New
York next Wednesday. To the ex-
tent of having arranged one for a
joint conference is the strike situa-
ton in the soft and hard coal fields
different, though no referendum vote
was cast by the snthracite miners.
Their convention. however, declared
for a suspension in event a new wage
agreement did not provide for wage
advances. In the soft coal fields the
miners ask the retention OF their
present basic wage scales.
The international executive board
OF the union ended a four-day meet
ing here today with the announce
ment that its last days work was
purely routine business. No consid-
GRAFTON was given the strike situation.
members said.
Tabulation OF the strike vote viii
begin next Thursday. Though the
vote may be overwhelmingly in favor
Of the strike, Il is not necessarily
final, for the policy committee has
broad authority for dealing with any
emergency question that may arise W
connection with the strike. How
ever, the union officials have not
manifested any intention OF Off
setting the strike in absence Of any
conference with the operators.
ILLINOIS OPERATORS RESTLESS
CHICAGO, Mar. 10--lllinois fuel
operators today asked for the imme-
date acceptance or rejection of their
proposition to meet Illinois miners to
negotiate new contract with the
workmen 10 take the place Of the
present contract which expires the
last OF this month. The message OF
the operators was addressed 10
Frank Harrington. president Of dis
trict IL, United Mine Workers OF
America.
For almost three months now. 20
be exact. since Dec. II. we have done
everything possible to get negotia-
tons under way today's message
said. I'VE have met fully and COM
pletely every contract requirement TO
secure conferences. but continue TO
be absolutely denied any opportunity
to discuss the subject of wages with
the representatives of our emploges.
I'VE do not propose TO be held at
fault IL there is a strike or cessation
of work in Illinois mines after April
/, nor to lend any assistance in the
slightest degree to others that may
contemplate the enforcement OF such
q policy
PITTSBURG MINERS WILLING
PlTTSBURG. Mar. 10-The miners
union OF the Pittsburg district will
join in any conference or meeting of
any kind with the operators, at any
time or place. "as has been announced
and decreed by John L. Lewis. inter
national president" said Robert r.
Gibbons, district president of the
United Mine Workers in q statement
issued here tonight.
The statement was in answer 10
one issued by the Pittsburg Coal
Producers association late yesterday,
and in which the operators declared
they were willing TO deal With our
own men in western Pennsylvania,
union or non-union. on a working
agreement. but would not meet the
United Mine Workers of America and
the operators OF the central CON-
petitive field 70 negotiate four states
wage agreement.
COLORADO MEN FOR STRIKE
PUEBLO, Colo, Mar. 10-Senti-
ment of the union coal miners In dis
trict No. Is. United Mine Workers,
is overwhelmingly IN favor OF a ma
ton wide strike April l in protest
against a reduction In wages, accord
ing to returns coming into district
headquarters here. Five locals have
reported showing 401 for. and %
against the proposes strike. -Four OF
the five unions are In Fremont coun-
" and the fifth report came from q
local near Aguilar
District No. Is comprises the entire
state Of Colorad and New Mexico,
sixty local unions with n member
shin OF between 4.500 and 5000 are
claimed in this district.
-O----