Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 101, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1910 — COALMIN SCLOSE IN MANY STATES [ARTICLE]

COALMIN SCLOSE IN MANY STATES

Chicago Facing Fuel Shortage*75,000 Miners Idle. 900 ILLINOIS MINES SHUT DOWN New* of Situation at Widely Separated Points In General Closing Down Movement Pending Signing of New Scales.

Chicago, April 1. Unprepared for the stride of 75,000 Illinois miners, Chicago is facing a soft coal famine which, if it continues for any length of time, will cost the city millions of dollars. Simultaneously with preparations for the big industrial war moves for peace are being made and Chicago will be the scene of the early negotiations. President A. J. Moorshead of the Illinois Operators’ «association has called a meeting of the joint scale committee of the Illinois operators and miners at Chicago Monday. The operators will' confer with the representatives of the miners’ union, but tney do not expect to reach an Immediate agreement.

“There is no possible way that I can see to avert a strike of at least thirty or sixty days,’’ said President Moorshead. “We have had’a .nine days’ conference with the miners and disagreed on thirteen of the thirty-four demands they made. I do not anticipate an early settlement “There are 900 mines in Illinois that will be shut down by the strike. About 325 operating companies will be affected. There will be 400 delegates at the meeting of the joint scale committee in Chicago on Monday." President Thomas L. Lewis of the United Mine Workers, hopeful of peace soon, left Indianapolis last night for the Illinois district. Manufacturers and other users of bituminous coal outside of the railroads may find it difficult to secure a supply if the strike lasts many days.