Los Angeles Herald, Volume 37, Number 122, 31 January 1910 — GIGANTIC BATTLE OF CAPITAL AND LABOR IMMINENT [ARTICLE]

GIGANTIC BATTLE OF CAPITAL AND LABOR IMMINENT

Great Struggle Is Probable Between Operators and the Coal Miners

HIGHER PAY IS ASKED

Employers Will Not Yield to Demands and Clash Seems Inevitable

[Associated Press] INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. SO.— of tne greatest industrial battles In the history of the United ! States impends, in the belief of the leaders of the United Mine Workers of America.

The convention of the organization, which has been in session for two weeks, will adjourn tomorrow night, and it Is probable a majority of the 100 delegates will go to Toledo for the joint conference with the bituminous operators of western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, which will open Tuesday. ' * '

This conference will negotiate a wage contract for these districts to go Into effect April 1; but, as the tri-state contract is to be the basis of uniform contracts in all other districts of the United States and Canada, it may be determined tomorrow that most or all soft coal miners assembled here should take part in the Toledo conference. Operators Refuse to Yield Mine operators, according to reports, will not yield to demands for an increase in wages, and some take the stand that conditions warrant a decrease. \ Sentiment in the Miners' union is unanimously for a general strike, if the operators refuse a wage increase of at least 10 per cent. Western Pennsylvania miners stand for a 20 per cent increase, on the ground the settlement of their recent strike jigainst the Pittsburg Coal company resuited in a decrease of 10 per cent from the wage contract signed by the last joint tri-state conference. The wage scale committee of the Miners' union will report tomorrow. It is expected the day will be passed by the convention in formulating the contract to be presented to the operators Tuesday,