The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-28
APPEAL TO TOILERS.
from First Page1

miners and their employers, and that failing,
by an adjudication a tribunal of arbitra-
tors composed of three United States judges
or three other gentlemen of national re-
pute and in whom the entire country can
repose confidence.
Resolved That we favor the principle
and practice of uniformity in its true and
honest sense, but we are unalterably OPP
posed to 1t in the false and perverted sense
in which it has been Used to cloak sham
schemes and transparent frauds.
Resolved That we favor true and hon.
est weights and measures, cash payments
and all other just and equitable methods in
the prosecution of the coal business.
Resolved That we denounce as a foul
falsehood and glazing outrage the charges
and insinuations so often publicly made
that general dishonesty has been practiced
in weights and measures in the mining in
dustry Of western Pennsylvania.
Resolved That the efforts to fasten on
the public mind these slanderous and afro
cious charges, d moral crime and that we
denounce the guilty author of this accusa-
ton moral criminal, violating COD S
holy commandment, Thou shalt not pear
false witness against thy neighbor
Resolved, That we are ready and will
but find ourselves unable to do this to the
full extent demanded by them, namely, 20
per cent. above the prices that were paid
prior to the strike and now being paid by
one of the largest coal companies in west
ern Pennsylvania and which company pre-
sents the chief obstacle to the settlement
After the resolutions had been read, the
chairman asked to have some portions
eliminated, but. the colonel refused en-
phatically to allow a single word TO be
dropped, and after a short contention with
drew from the conference.
Colonel Rend took the minority report
with him and Chairman Dempster decided
that as Colonel Rend had left the meeting
and taken the report with him 1t was not
part of the record of the session and could
w. P. De Armitt said he wanted it dis
tinctly understood that the call to adopt un-
iformity did not have anything to do with
the strike, as he did not propose to arDl-
trate anything while under fire nor admit
that the operators were towards.
DR.. Anderson advised that the report OF
the committee be taken up ad seriatum.
An effort was made to do this, but the OPP
orators did not seem to grasp the text OF
copies of the agreement be printed over
night and a copy be placed in the hands
of each operator in the morning This was
Tonight General Little and others called
on Colonel Rend at his hotel and asked
that he reconsider his action and
cess of the meeting. He replied that ne
would cordially indorse and cooperate IN
any plan the conference agreed upon II
80 per cent. of the district operators would
give their consent to the same. lie be-
lieves it impossible to secure 81 per cent.
for uniformity, as Mr.. De Armltt demands,
and is willing to do as 80 per cent. OF the
operators wish.
The new preamble to the old uniformity
agreement relates the existing condltio Q
of affairs in the Pittsburg district and the
lack of profit there is in the coal trade. IT
states that uniformity, If properly and
promptly availed of, will settle these di1-
ferences to large extent and correct the
abuses to a degree not hitherto attalnable.
True uniformity calls for cash payments
for every 1000 pounds of coal mined, every
two weeks, adjustment of company stores
and a uniform screen. The ditterentlal
between the thick and thin vein coal and
between Ohio and Pennsylvania coal may
also come up for consideration. The ope-
rators in the thin-vein coal say the IA cents
difference in favor Of thick-vein coal is too
should be cut one-half This cut. if at
tempted, will be fought by the thick-vein
operators and may be the first rock on
which the conference will split. as all the
other points mentioned have been granted
as proper in former conferences and con-
ventions. There are JOG railroad mines In
the Pitsburg district, and these are oper-
ated by elghty-nine firms. thirteen OF
these are said to mine and control about
90 per cent. of the coal mined IN the as
trict. The ambition of the arbitrators and
w p De Armitt the father of the uni
formity agreement, is to have 81 per cent.
of the eighty-nine operators agree to ADOPT
a system or standard of doing business.
Tonight General Little and Judge Owens
are in secret conference at the Duquesne
Club with Secretary VILLAIN Warner and
mite can be learned as to the subject under
discussion, but it is believed 1t has refer
ence to having the miners represented al
the conference tomorrow, as there seems
to be considerable dissatisfaction with MIR
De Armtts announcement to-day that the
conference has no connection with the
tablishing uniformity. Many of the opera
tors think with Colonel Rend that the
meeting should devise some means TO settle
the strike as we'll to provide for uniform
REPORTS to the miners officials from
throughout the district show everything
ouiet All plans are being held in allegiance
pending the action of the conference.