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Show 4500 Utah Metal Miners Taking Ballot on Strike Approximately 4500 Utah metal miners, members of local unions of the International Union, Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers of America, Mbnday were voting whether to strike for a flat 75 cents dally Increase In-crease In wages. As polls opened at 12 noon. R, O. Bunting, president secretary of district No. 2 of the International, declared: "The ballot means exactly what It says." Mr. Bunting did not amplify Us comment other than to explain, The ballot specifically states the proposition 'Are you In favor of striking for a 75-cent flat Increase In-crease In wagesr That means exactly ex-actly what It says." Under the present contract between be-tween operators and the union a 25-cents-a-day Increase will be effective ef-fective October 6. However, Mr. Bunting said, the vote being taken Monday doss not take that Increase In-crease Into consideration. The 75 cent Increase being voted on today," Mr. Bunting explained, ex-plained, "does not Include the 25 cent Increase automatically effective effec-tive October under terms of the present contract, but la ever and above the October increase." Mr. Bunting said approximately 4500 miners are eligible to vote in the locals of Park City, Eureka, Bingham, Lark, Tooele, Garfield, Mldvale and Murray. Polls will be open until t p. m. The strike vote was decided upon at meetings of all locals last Thursday Thurs-day night, Mr. Bunting said, and followed a stalemate In negotiations negotia-tions between operators and workmen. work-men. The conferences were the outgrowth out-growth of a clause la the present contract providing that discussion! toward adjustments la wages will be started whenever the price of sliver departs from (4.(4 cents an ounce. The price was Increased te 71.11 cents by the last congress. |