Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-12

" ON IltSn from r lfN I2Et.i
an new wage contract 10 replace the
one that expired August 81 last year
The expired contract was two-year
agreement and was the result OF medf-
alton by Gov. Pinchot OF PennsyI-
vania. The miners in that agreement
received a 10 per cent increase in
wages.
The United Mine Worker.' Union
took the first steps toward writing a
new contract in June OF last year
when q convention was held in Scran-
ton. Pa. This convention drew up a
series Of demands. chief OF which were
a 10 per cent increase in tonnage
rates, 81 day additional for men paid
by the day. fun recognition OF the
union. which carried with II the
check-off system Of the companies
collecting the unoin dues for the local
unions. and two-year contract.
Mining Stopped September /.
The demands were presented to the
operators a t Atlantic City on July g.
Despite the fact that the opposition OF
the operators WAS made known at the
time the dema nda were submitted
negotiations proceeded until August 4.
when they came to an abrupt end.
Mining was stopped September l.
L
time indicated that il would not inter
vene while efforts We're being made in
other directions to end the strike.
Late in November Gov. Pinchot
summoned the operators headed by
Maj. w. W. IngHs. and the miners
led by John l.. Lewis. president Of the
United Mine Workers Union. TO Har,
risburg 10 receive a plan OF settle
ment. The miners accepted the invi.
% but he
they were unable to summon their
committee in the time given.
Gov Pinchot's plan, which among
other things provided for a board OF
investigation and award. was accepted
ny Mr.. Lewis as a basis for settle
ment.''
The operators. however. rejected it
on the ground that II was "unwork
able and that IL provided for the ar.
bitration of wages upward only.
number of other plans designed
To end the strike were presented and
accepted or rejected by one side or the
other. Then Gov. Pinchot called a
conference Of mayors and burgesses
of the anthracite fields to see what
could be done. and as result the
executive succeeded in bringing the
two sides together in New York on
December 20. with the understa nding
could he taken up and discussed
When the negotistors met. Avian Mar.
kle. chairman of the joint wage con.
terence. present ed a plan that he had
drafted and this was made the basis
for the resumption Of discussions
which took a wide range.
Arbitration Issue.
Arbitration was. feature Of al
plans. and this form Of settling the
strike was opposed by the miners
the Pinchot plan. but the operator
were uncompromisingly opposed 70 II
As q result the New York conference
broke up on January IA. Two weeks
later. on January %. both sides met
again in Philadelphia, ut the request
oS President Lewis. to consider a pla r
offered by E. ]. Lynett. publisher Of
the Scranton. Pa. Times. These meet
ings also came 10 naught. the confer
ence breaking up when they failed &c
reach an agreement.
Many bills and resolutions We're in
troduced in the Pennsylvania Lesisla
tire seeking 10 end the strike. hut al
either were killed in committee OF
failed OF passage when reported out
The United States Senate took a hs nd
ny adopting resolution OF Senator
Copsland Of New York appealing &c
the President to bring about a re
sumption Of mining. The President
however. made il known that his pol
icy Of non.interventfon remained IN
changed.
In the meantime the $4,000 mine
workers and several thousand railroad
men. made idle by the strike. looked
quietly on. The pinch of lack ut in
come was felt in many Of the mining
communities and in some OF them sour
kitchens were established and locs
charities did considerable relief work
The United Mine Workers Union does
not pay strike benefits. but takes care
Of all union men and their ia miles
through relief provided by the local