Show ru an INERS QUIT WAR 18 ON FOR INCREASE IN WAGES AND SHUT DOWN MAY LAST FOR MONT MONTHS 18 three hundred thousand coal digger refuse to work until settlement of new Wag eScale which may soon do be effected indianapolis three hundred thousand organized athera of the bituminous coal fields of pennsylvania ohio indiana illinois iowa missouri kansas oklahoma and arkanas have quit work the last shift going on duty thursday night pending settlement of a new wage scale officers of the united mine workers of north america declared the walkout not a strike but merely a suspension of work because no wage scale ecale has been made to replace the old scale which expired with march the miners demand an increase of pay in some instances of 6 5 cents a ton and in other instances more with certain change in working conditions confidence was wan expressed by the operators that there would be no general coal famine large supplies of fuel having been stored in anticipation of the walkout while the miners predict the sus pension will be short by a prompt signing of wage scales some of iho operators maintain the mines may be kept closed tor for a month or longer lenger the first settlement came in an announcement no from brazil ind the center of the indiana block coal field where the demand for a 6 cent increase was granted |