Evening star., 1927-04-03
MINE OPERATORS
READY TO PARLEY
Illinois Owners Willing to
Meet Union on Wages,
Says Rice Miller.

by the ASAOC1ateu EFeHSt
CHICAGO, April 2.--Expressing
willingness to talk over the situation
with union officials at all times" Illi-
nois operators tonight were neverthe-
less pessimistic concerning any early
resumption of work in the bitumi-
nous coal fields, idle because OF the
failure of operators and miners to
agree upon a new wage scale.
1--WE cannot afford to pay the Jack
sonville wage scale and survive in
competition with non-union fields"
said Rice Miller, president of the Illi-
nois operators, controlling mines en-
ploying $4,000 miners.
Illinois operators said that no at
tempt will be made to operate the
mines in this State with non-union
labor. No mine can operate without
the approval of the State board, which
because of disorders that have arisen
in the past, would be expected to
frown on any open shop operation.
Suspension Is General.
Reports from the entire central
competitive field and from other
bituminous coal centers indicated that
the suspension has been general. The
exceptions are small mines scattered
throughout the several fields which
are continuing operation at the pres
ent time, pending agreement on
new wage.
Both operators and miners have
shown reluctance to take any definite
steps toward immediate resumption
of work. During the day prospects
for a wage conference In the Ohio
mt aA1I III. ~,
the union officials said they would de-
cline to participate in any conference
which had for its basis a discussion
Of scale lower than that which ex-
pired Thursday midnight.
The Ohio operators had replied to a
union suggestion for conference by
stating they would participate only
In the discussion of q competitive
wage. The miners are bound to dis
cuss no scale lower than that of the
Jacksonville agreement.
Under Separate Pacts.
More small mines in Ohio announced
their intention to continue operations
under separate agreements with the
union. Both operators and union off,
cials, however, were agreed that
nearly all of the 100000 miners en-
gagged In soft coal mining in the union
fields have remained away from the
mines.
Some Of the larger non-union mines
were said to have had larger forces at
work today than earlier in the week.
The union, however. gave no indica-
ton of any change of interest in the
activity In the non.union field which,
operators have claimed, normally pro-
duces 20 per cent of the entire bitum.
inous coal output.
Railroads Are Prepared.
Railroads of the Nation, forewarned
OF the general suspension in the btu
mfnous fields, have stored supplies of
fuel sufficient for three to four
months Of operation, according to
Charles d. Morris, assistant chairman
OF the Western railways committee on
public relations.
If the suspension extends for more
than four months, Mr.. Morris said.
the railroads will have little difficulty
in obtaining additional supplies from
non-union fields.
If the strike is of protracted dura.
tion," Mr.. Morris said, sit will result
In considerable loss of tonnage and
revenue to most of the railroads serv-
ing the strike-bound fields. On the
other hand, there has been a heavy
movement since the first of the year
which will materially offset the slump
during the strike"