The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-24
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MINERS READY
TO BREAK OFF
COAL FARLEY
Last Concession Has Been
Made on Wage Rate,
Leaders Say.
SEPT. "a. 1886
Continued From Page One

tt0ntlnued FROM rage Onel
terms and would insist upon a con-
clusion Of the negotiations.
Our last word is 9 cents a ton.
They can take it or leave it" Mr..
Lewis said.
He referred to the tonnage wage
Increase demand which is the nub
Of conference discussion. The miners
originally asked for Is cents a ton
increase for this type Of labor, later
reduced that figure to 10 cents, and
on the eve Of the strike conceded
/ cent further
AS the strike began last midnight,
operators we're reported willing TO
grant a So cent increase in tonnage
rates and have not officially ad-
vanced their offer since that time.
Both groups are in agreement now
on the 50-cent per day increase in
DAY rates asked by the miners.
Meanwhile, Federal officials
turned with some apprehension to
the problem of feeding needy miners
and their families
Hope Not Abandoned
Despite the acrimony of the wage
negotiations, those close to the stu
alton had not abandoned hope that
a protracted strike of the 100000
miners who left their jobs yester-
day could be avoided.
The relief problem was a serious
one, not only from the standpoint
OF financing but from the stand
point of policy.
During the preliminaries to the
cotton textile strike year ago,
much criticism was voiced of an
announced intention to furnish
Federal aid to strikers. 1t was ar
gued that such a course would throw
the support of the United States
government on the side of strikers
and against employers.
To meet that criticism, it was de-
cided that relief would not be az
fOrded until it had become apparent
that restitution was at hand. A
similar policy was expected in the
present situation, where already
some protest has been heard against
any action which would place the
government in the position of
furnishing sinews of war to strikers.
Edward F. McGrady, assistant
secretary of labor, who is represent
ing the White House in the coal ne
gOtiatiOns, advised Relief Admins
traitor Harry L. Hopkins to be pre-
pared for calls for aid from the
mining districts.
The action stirred up new resent
ment against Mr. McGrady among
operators, who have felt that he was
attempting to dragon them into an
agreement. Mr.. McCray is a
former legislative representative Of
he American Federation of Labor,
of which the u NJ. W., is an af-
filiate.
Harsh Words Are Exchanged
The conference was being re-
sumed in a smoke filled atmosphere
of harsh words. For the moment
that negotiations were in the hands
of a subcommittee of four, two en-
ployerS and two miners.
The full conference was ready to
act on any proposals produced by
the subcommittee or the committee
OF Is named earlier to frame set
Element proposals.
Technical details of differentials,
tonnage. operating income and
miners income were shouted across
the table in a style familiar to
union contract negotiatorS but
alarming to the uninitiated.
It was only two years ago that
SOft-coal operators consented even
to sitting down at a conference with
representative of the miners. Be
fore that every effort to bring them
together had failed
Once that barrier was broken
down. there remained no difficulty
in understanding each other. There
was, however. stubborn disagree
ment on many questions.
The prolonged negotiations settled
all points of difference except that
of wages. That particular point,
after hard driving and continued
Administration pressure, has been
narrowed down to a debate over one
and one-half cents per ton on pick
and machine-mined coal.
The miners are asking a 9-cent
increase: the operators are willing
to grant IL instead of the 6 cents
they originally proposed.