The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-09
Peaceful Settlement of the Great
Miners Strike Must BE Arranged
at Pittsburg.
ARRANGING A CONFERENCE
GOV. HASTINGS ASKED TO HAVE A
REPRESENTATIVE PRESENT.
Latest from the Pittsburg District
Indicates Trouble Developing
Along the Railroads.
speclaI to the Inaianarollg journal.

Special 10 l0e Indianapolis journal.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind July S.-The state
labor commissioners to-day reached the
conclusion that the effort for arbitration
must be made in the Pittsburg district if
the interstate mining strike is to be set
tied by that method, ard have asked for
a meeting in that city. THIS morning COM
missioner Schmidt, OF the indiana commits
sion, went to Brazil to consult the opera
tors OF the block coal field which is con-
fined to the one county The operators
frankly said they would not consent to ar
bitration because they had a wage scale
contract with their 1900 miners which ran
until next May. The bituminous operators
tell the commissioners that they do not in
tend TO turn over their business to a labor
commission and that until the Pittshurg
field is brought into line there is no use
talking about arbitration; that the mining
scale in the several competitive States is
a dfferential based on the Pittsburg price
for mining.
L. p. Mccormack, the other Indiana COM
missioner, came here to-day with Joseph
Bishop, secretary of the Ohio Labor Com
mission and after a conference with Com
missioner Schmidt the following kilograms
were sent: Estate Board of EArbitration;
Springfield, ILL.,: Will you cooperate with
arbitration boards of Ohio and Indiana in
efforts to adjust coal miners strike. We
suggest meeting at Pittsburg."
The other message was to Governor
Hastings of Pennsylvania, as follows 1.-The
arbitration boards of Ohio and Indiana
earnestly desire your cooperation in eff
forts to settle coal miners strike Will you
designate some one to represent you at
meeting suggested at Pittsburg.'
President Tally of the Indiana operators
and other large operators in the State. sug-
gest a national board for fixing a limited
output of COAL by which means the price
could be maintained and the wages of the
men increased. The commissioners say they
are confident that unless the Pittsburg op-
orators, who have been paying the lower
price for mining, be brought into an
agreement on the wage scale the only solu-
ton of the situation is for an agreement
limiting the output. The mines in the COM
petitive field can supply the coal for
years demand in eight months. If the eff
fort for adjustment at Pittsburg should fail
the Indiana commission will meet here next
Monday to investigate the situation in this
State and make a report to the Governor
but with the operators refusing to con-
sent to arbitration the provision of the law
for that method of settling strike contro-
versies is ineffective.
The demand for coal on the few operators
whose mines are in operation is increas-
ing and leaves no doubt that consumers,
especially in Chicago cannot get coal read
fly. President Knight of the miners, went
to Sullivan county to-day to consult with
the men there. The Sullivan county min
ers have not oeen in the organization since
last year but the majority of them favor
the strike. il the effort to secure the in
terstate conference at Pittsburg should fail
the Indiana labor commission will hold an
investigation OF the Indiana situation be-
ginning next Monday. This will not be in
the way of arbitration, but under the pro-
vision of the law that when the effort for
arbitration shall have failed the commits
sion may ascertain the facts and report to
the Governor.
Tonight the commissioners received a
message from the Illinois board saying 1t
would send a representative to the Pitts
burg meeting and the commissioners now
believe that such a meeting can be held.
They are still waiting to hear from Gov
ernor Hastings.
State Mine Inspector Fisher is here hold
ing an examination of applicants for posi-
tions in the mines as mine boss and the like
and the commissioners will talk with these
men tomorrow.