The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-17
. THEY CAN'T AGREE.
Miners and Operators as Far
Apart as Ever.
President Mcbride Makes an
Impassioned Speech.
ASKS LIVING WAGES.
The Conference Committees Can
Accomplish Nothing.
Operators Present Their Case in
Strong Speeches.

CLEVELAND, May 17.-This is the
gloomiest day of the big coal conference
and probably it will be the last. The
miners and operators before the conven-
tion was called to order seemed as far
apart as they ever were. The belief
seems to be general that the conference
will come to an end without anything
approaching a settlement being reach
ed.
The convention was called to order
shortly after o'clock and Chairman
Seerbe called for report of the confer
ence committee. Ever delegate in his
toric Case hall knew just what it would
be|that no agreement could be reached
and there were no surprises in that
After the joint conference committee
had reported that they could not agree,
Operators II. L. Chapman of Ohio and
member of the conference committee,
made brief address. He recounted the
history of the committee meeting and
said that the operators offered SO and
So scale, while the miners still held out
for 70 and 10 cents He said that in view
of the present condition and the strained
condition of manufacturing, in this
operators could not concede the advance
asked.
President Mcbride was the first
speaker. He said he was willing to
have vote taken on the compromise
offered by the operators, but he would
guarantee t0dL the miners WOulQ DC
unanimous against it.
Continuing the speaker said: Gas
native born citizen, l blush to
think that the business interests
are builded upon the starvation and
degrading wages paid the laborers
give us living wages and increase the
price of your coal SO you can get a fair
profit. There can be no compromise
along the lines of starvation wages. The
miners make no threats, but they stand
together, peaceably, earnestly and de-
termined as ever and will go on so, finish
ing the present fight and prepared for
future fights" -ss.-------a.---
Following President Mcbride, F. L.
Robbins, of Pennsylvania, secured the
floor. and made a strong speech for the
operators.
Vice President Penna, of the miners,
then took the floor and spoke in their be-
half, making an able argument to show
that the operators were in a position to
pay living wages now as at any time in
the past
Wages Are Too Low.
Colonel w. P. Rend, of Chicago, then
secured the floor. He said he came to
pour oil on the troubled waters. He
urged both sides to make some conces-
sions, and said that the 50 cents and 56
cents for mining was too low and pro-
posed a compromise of go and SO
cents. He scored the miners associa-
ton for refusing to permit miners
to work in the mines where the
operators had conceded to the demands
of their men and said that the czar of
Russia would not dare to issue arbi-
trary order.
To the miners he said: "You must
now consent to a compromise scale. If
not these operators will fight until you
are defeated; / am your friend, let me
implore you to come together. You
miners abandon your false position; you
operators give the miners more. Say
you agree on a go cents basis for Ohio"
Col. Rend's remarks were applauded
by the operators and many miners.
Mr.. X. H. johnson of Hooking moved
to refer the matter back to the commit
tee on conference, to repeat at p. III.
The chair decided that Mr.. Chap
mans motion to agree to the
report was before the house. After
several speeches from both sides
Col Rend moved that the convention
take a recess. This excited the ire of
Vice President Penna, who after the mo-
ton had been declared out of order, turn
ed on Mr.. Rend in some hot remarks,
scored that gentleman, without naming
him, for insinuations against President
Mcbride.
After some further discussion an ad-
iournment was taken until 2:30.