The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-25
MINERS STANDING FIRM
WANT 10 CENTS ADVANCE AND UNI
FORM BASE OF WEIGHTS.
No Conclusion Reached Yesterday at
the joint Convention of Opera
tors and Coal Diggers.

CHICAGO, Jan. 4.-The interstate BIZ
luminous coal miners and operators made
little progress to-day in session, but the
miners made their position plain and sig
nified their intention to do or die. Their de-
mands were reiterated for an advance of
10 cents a ton and a uniform base of
weights AS the convention seemed to be
nearing point when action would be alb
solutely necessary, the whole matter, in
Guiding the resolutions presented by the
miners. was referred back to the scale COM
mttee, with instructions to report to-mor-
row. The main question is now whether
Illinois will break away from the contracts
running to May / or insist holding them
good. If the Illinois operators can be ar
ranged for, nothing will prevent a quick
settlement, as the other operators are ready
and willing to grant the advance demanded.
When the joint convention met this morn
ing, the reconsideration of the vote which
defeated the mne-run proposition last week
was taken up. After short discussion the
roll of states was called and the proposition
again defeated-yeas %. nays s. The opera
tors of Indiana and Ohio voted in the neg
alive.
A motion was made by the Ohio miners
that whatever advances were granted should
take effect on January II. This led to a
lengthy discussion between the Ohio and
Illinois operators on the methods employed
in disposIng of their output. President
Ratchford declared that it was out of the
question TO reach a settlement based on
May L prices. The miners had too often
tasted the sweets of settlements on that
date. The first of the year was the proper
time. If miners of a certain district were
under contract until May 1, that could
easily be arranged. He again suggested the
double standard to take effect January 16.
as the best way of satisfying all parties.
AS the Indiana and Ohio operators alone
had voted against the mine-run plans at to-
days session, he suggested that the opera
tors of those two states confer and
deavor to formulate something which would
meet their approval. The plan was APP
proved by the convention and a recess was
taken.
At the afternoon session, which was de-
layed until o clock awaiting the result of
the miners meeting, the motion pending
that any advance granted should take eff
feet Jan. IL, was tabled. The operators
who had likewise been in secret session,
then offered resolution, passed at a con-
ference of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois OPP
orators, establishing double standard be-
tween Pennsylvania and Ohio, Indiana and
illinois, the main feature Of which was a
one-and- a-quarter-inch screen for the Pitts
burg-Ohio district as basis for the run of
mine price, the differentialS to be decided
on by the miners and operators of each
State. The clause referring to the screens
made the fiat bar applicable to Ohio and
PlttSburg district and the diamond bar for
Indiana and Illinois. The operators endeav-
ored to explain why a distinction had been
made in the shape of the bars but Presi-
dent Ratchford declared that the miners
wanted uniformity, and that if the oper-
ators had nothing better to offer it was
time the convention came to a close. I'VE
came here" he concluded, ito give nothing
away but to demand better prices and bet
ter conditions" He moved the previous
question, thus cutting off further debate
The resolution was then lost, the miners
voting nay.
President Ratchford was then called on for
the report of the miners meeting. He re-
piled that the miners simply reaffirmed their
demands for the mine run system. The
miners were next called upon to offer their
scale. President Ratchford replied by read
ing the following: THE miners demand is
for 10 cents advance on screened and a rel
ative price for run of mine" He then Of
fered the following:
Resolved, That we favor the mining of
screened and unscreened coal in all the
fields of the competitive districts for the
coming year except Illinois, and that the
mnglng prices be adjusted by this conVen-
ton, giving all districts in the competing
districts fair competing prices
AS this resolution was about to be put,
Operator Robbins got the floor and re-
be somewhat clearer. he moved that the
whole matter be referred back to the scale
committee with instructions to report to-
morrow morning. This motion was carried
unanimously, and the convention adjourned
until tomorrow.
The scale committee met this evening for
an all-night session Nothing had been
done by midnight, and 1T said that the
chances for an agreement are small.