The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-07
MINERS STRIKE ISSUE
STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT TALL
LEY FOR INDIANA oPER ATORS.
Lnfter Must Have Reduction in
Scale to Meet Compefition-Labor
May BE Imported.
peeial to the indianapolis Journal.

Special the indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Sept. 6.-Presi-
dent Talley. of the State Association of
Bituminous Coal Operators, has furnished
the press with q statement in regard 10
the strike issue which may be taken as the
ultirnatum of the operators. Since Vice
President Ogle agreed to the 60 cents price
asked by the men for mining at his ISL
and City mines the operators have held two
meetings to consider the situation. They
did not enter into communication with Ogle
nor ask for his resignation, but the latter
has just been received after a delay that
did not seem to be understood by the OPP
orators. The operators say he has obtained
contracts in markets where he I'd to
compete only with Ohio coal and that from
the beginning the operators have told the
miners that they would be willing
to pay the 60 cents price Tor
all coal mined to be sold in competition
with Ohio if differental could be OBJ
tanned, but that the larger per cent.
of Indiana's output is sold in competition
with Illinois coal mined at lower price
than Ohio coal. Mr. Talley says:
Il simply voice the unanimous sentiment
OF our members in refusing to be cajoled
or driven to pay a price for mining which
would reduce the tonnage of the Indiana
mines two-thirds and give the miners one
ton instead of three, 60 cents of earnings
against $1.65, the latter being the rate OF
SO cents. which we stand ready to pay. The
tonnage at the 60-cent price would be, when
divided among the mines so small that
the average mine could not be operated ex-
cept at loss. 1t is therefore plain to be
seen that some would be compelled to re-
main idle or all run at a loss. The min
ers are in the habit of saying that they
IA "a 81 we mig
be able TO give them at 60 cents and let
the rest go. This possibly might be done If
two-thirds of the mines would shut down.
but the legitimate output of the State
would be correspondingly decreased and
large amount of money which should right
fully be distributed through the miners to
the wholesale and retail dealers and bust
ness of the State generally would be di
verted to other States, as indeed is now be-
ing done. This is being brought about. not
because the miners refuse to work at a
less price than our competitors pay, but
will enable US to market our coal in compe-
tition with the great coal fields of Illinois,
whore much lower prices for mining pre-
vail Their position is just as indefensible
as ours would be were we now asking them
to work for less price than that paid
by our competitors were able to cope
with them equitably at prices heretofore
paid. A large number of mines have been
developed and capital invested with the full
expectation that prices for labor and min
ing in Indiana would be kept relatively the
same. as in competing fields, which was
THE interests of the operator and miner
are dependent one upon the other and
shouiu pe mutual me arbitrary position
which the miners are now taking if per-
sisted in must bring disaster Upon all con-
cerned. The great coal industry of Indiana
is daily being paralyZed and driven out of
the position in the markets of the coun-
try TO which it is rightfully entitled The
large contracts for supplying the leading
manufacturing institutions and railroads
which we have had for years, are being
taken by our more forward competitors
formerly delivered at Logansport for the
Eel river division. for the Nickel-plate road
and the Grand Trunk delivered at Stilwell
and Chicago; the Michigan General. deliv-
cred at Michigan City: the Chicago & Erie
the Lake Shore and part of the L.. N. A.
& c. and others is to-day coming from
other States and giving steady employment
to the miners of other fields. while the min
ers of Indiana are idle. contending for a
price that makes the operator helpless to
hold his trade. The circumstances that
compelled the operator to ask for cents
reduction four months ago are daily grow
ing more imperative and it is doubtful. if
their demands We're acceded to at this time
whether the mines would be able to re
sumo at anything like their former and
rightful output. Until the miners shall
have changed their position and agreed to
make such concessions as will enable the
product of our mines to meet competition
on equal terms our mutual interests must
go from bad to worse until our market will
be limited to a dribblng local trade and
our miners remain in enforced idleness or
follow our once prosperous trade to other
fields where they will be compelled to ac-
cept less favorable compensation for their
abcr than offered at home'
President Talley also says that while the
operators have been glad to deal with the
miners organization. that the present con-
dttion cannot he permitted to continue The
mines cannot be allowed to remain idle
when there are plenty of men in other min
ing helds working at less than offered here
who would be glad to accept the 55-cent
price. Cp to this time both miners and OPP
orators nave been playing waiting game
but II is known now that some of the OPP
orators want to start their mines with i'm
ported labor and call on the Governor for
protectlon II the strikers interfere with the
operation of the mines While Mr. TaIlev
does not say this is to be done it is under
stood the waiting game has been played
out SO far as the operators are concerned