Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-28
20 PER CENT
RAISE ASKED,
CHIEF POINT
Committee Will Reach
Crux of Situation in
One or Two Days.
No Hope of Agreement
in Time to Halt Sus-
pension Friday Night.

New York. March 27.-The anthra-
cite miners and operators subcommit-
tee on wage contract negotiations Mon
day abandoned general discussion of
the industry and got down to the 10
demands of the workers.
Negotiations of the day were re-
stricted to the second part Of demand
No /, relating to establishment of a
scale for operators of mechanical load
crs. and demand No. 3, which says:
In conformity with the thought ex
pressed in the award Of the United
States anthracite coal commission, we
demand that uniform wage schedule
be established SO that the various oc-
equations of like character at the sew
eral colleries shall command the same
wages.
The miners restricted the discussion
to presentation of vast array of
statistics as evidence to support their
demands. James German, secretary of
the board and nonvoting member Of
the secret conferences, announced at
the close of the session that "the
miners will continue presentation Of
their case"
Reach Crux Soon
The chief demand Of the miners and
the rrtlx of tire anthracite situation
in wages throughout the industry. and
the demand for a 20 per cent increase
a raise Of 81 per shift for day labor
ers-wiii be broached before the com
mittec late Tuesday or Wednesday,
union members Of the committee an
noGnced.
Operators refused to comment on the
present status of the negotiations ex-
cept 10 agree with the miners that
negotiation of new contract in time
to halt suspension of work in the
anthracite mines April 1 is not in
sight.
The data for a complete presenta
tion of our case is in our hands," said
Thomas J. Kennedy, labor member of
the committee. I'VE now are ready to
put it up to the mine operators"
Ten thousand members of the Inter
national Seamen's union in the port
of New York are awaiting the return
Of their president. Andrew Furuseth,
from Washington to decide whether
they will interfere with the proposed
importation of British mined soft coal
10 help break the strike of the btu
minous miners, also set for April l.
Longshoremen Viii Help
Coincidental with the seamens pre-
paration for action. John H. Ryan,
vice president of the International
Longshoremen's association asserted
today that is $1,000 member intended
70 render every possible assistance to
the United Mine Workers
Although the next district confer
enre OF the Longshoremen's organiza-
ton is rot scheduled until April Q. Mr..
Ryan declared a special conference
would be held if developments war
rantnd. to formulate a program of aid
for the 100000 bituminous men ordered
by their union leaders to halt work
Friday midnight
According to officials Of the seamen's
union. Mr.. FUruseth conferred at
Washington with government officials
and chiefs of the American Federation
of Labor, relative to reports that the
government considered importation of
British coal in the event a protracted
strike threatened the nations fuel sup
ply. In these reports. which Mr.. Furr-
seth is investigating. it was said the
administration would permit shipping
board vessels to haul coal from Great
Britain as ballast.
Unions May Block Scheme
i has been suggested that prefer
entail freight rate might be fixed which
would permit importation of the for
eisn mined product at cost not pro-
hibitive to American industrial con-
sumers.
Refusal of the seamen to sail vessels
hauling such coal combined with a re-
fusal u longshoremen to unload them,
would effectively block such Il scheme.
local union officials asserted. Al
though intended by the government as
means of protection to the consumer
they said. it actually would be weapon
in the hands Of the operators. to Grip
pie the bituminous miners in their an
nounced intention of striking until the
operators agree TO confer with them
on new wage schedule.
They pointed out that the supply on
hand April /. plus the estimated non
union output of 100000 tons week.
would result in shortage within four
months after the strike is called figur-
ing the weekly consumption Of the ma
ton at 2225OOO tons. The importa
+;on of Rrit;Sb snal thev oddad would