The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-14
THOUSANDS MUST QUIT C0ALM MINES Bitumin0us Union And Operators Both Agree
 Elimination Near 100000 MEN WILL
 LOSE THEIR JOBS Economic Necessity Is Given As Reason Because Of Reported i Overproduction ELIMINATION PROCESS
 IS NOW UNDER WAY Nothing Can Be Done At Jack sonville Conference To Save
 Many Mining Hanllets
ELIMINATION PROCESS
 IS NOW UNDER WAY

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, Feb. 13.- (By the Associated Press. )-Fate, in the garb of economic necessity, is be- lieved by members of the joint wage conference of miners and presidents here to have set its face against thou sands of soft coal miners in America. Whatever wage agreement is signed here, it is declared by leaders on both sides at the close of today's session, cannot stop the elimination of count less miners from the industry nor save hundreds of miners and little mining hamlets over the country from gradual dissolution.
 This verdict was sounded here to- night by leaders of both operators and miners, but none would permit their ! names to be used. Their deep regrets were voiced as they told of the hope lessness. of the situation, and pictured the 100000 or more excess bituminous miners and the little homesteads, dot ting many mining fields whose active days are numbered.
 Many Miners To Go
 Elimination has commenced" a spokesman for the operators said, land will stop only when economic condi- tions require. There are 700 bitumin- ous shipping mines in the country. About half of them must go, and with delay in reaching an agreement will stave off the elimination. but only for a time. There is no escape from it"
 This was the spirit evidenced by miners and operators leaders as they emerged from today's session of the subcommittee, entrusted with the draft ing of wage proposal for the central competitive field. The session was spent largely in 'sparring for position" ]" A great diversity of opinion, it was said, was voiced by operator members, and for sake of argument, a formal proposal was made that the miners amend their demands and ask a one year contract, instead of one for four years.
 Old Scale Suggested z
 Miners countered by repeating that they were persuaded the signing of a fonr-year contract would be, a great step in restoring Industrial stability in the country. Objection from the other side of the table was that it was, doubt full that four-year contract at the highest wage the miners ever had, would be permanently stabilizing. It was suggested by one operator that such d .HlONc WOulu Ut lOE Lue miners would take reduction, some thing for instance, like the wage scale of 1917.
 There was no serious support for this suggestion. Then the miners requested that this joint conference go on record as referring back" all internal differ i. ences and conditions to the particular stdistricts with instructions that he dis tricts call separate joint conference of miners and operators in which to ad- just these differences. Operators all most as a unit, declared they were against referring back" local condi- ti0ns.
 Dead Work" Day
 Local conditions, it was explained, have much to do with miners pay, and if the yare referred back" for adjust ,ment, the individual districts will de; termine how much miner shall re- ceive for doing ''dead work" digging slate out of his way, loading dirt, and laying tracks, which is all necessary be- fore he can reach the coal, which yields him recompense by the ton. Some To- calities, refuse to allow pay for some "dead work" and the miners are de- manding that the operators and miners get together at home in their separate districts and settle the question.