The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-01-18
OPERATORS ARE SEA
An important Labor Conference
Opens at Chicago.
MINERS TO DEMAND RUN SCALE,
The Outcome of the Convention May Gre
ate Harmony Between the Operators and
Miners or Pr.cipitate n Gigantic Strike
Involving Nearly 100000 Men-Greai
Shut Down of Cotton Mills at New Bed
ford-Spindles and Looms Are Idle.

Chicago, Jan. 1s.-The most important
conference of operators and miners ever
held in this country opened in the Asso-
citation building. The conference has
the opportunity of creating thorough
harmony in the mining world or taking
action that will lead to the most stu
pendous strike OF the century. The
miners will take the aggressive from
the beginning, as the first demand that
will be made proposes that the scale OF
wages shall be based upon mine run or
gross weight. Screens must be done
away with in every state, say the min
ers, and an increase of 10 per cent.
ton must be given. Outside Of Illinois
and poi tion of Indiana the operators
are emphatically opposed to gross
weight scale. The Pennsylvania and
Ohio operators are fighting among
themselves over the question Of O.
cent differential, the former asserting
that none should be given to Ohio
Illinois Operators willing.
The laws Of Illinois, however, have
abolished screens, and three-fourths or
made the change The Illinois opera
tors have also adopted scale which
will be presented to the scale commit
tee that will be appointed. This scale
is practically the same as that adopted
by the miners at Springfield last Sep
tember. and Will be of great assistance
to the miners in the conference. a IT
virtually volunteers to give all that the
workmen- ask. The miners will submit
scale based upon rs cents in the Pitts
burg district for screened coal, or about
SO cents for gross weight. This woulc
make the rate in Ohio for screened Goa
about 66 cents. and that in illinois abou
72 cents, in the Wilmington district
/ about 6S cents in the third vein field
! and 81 cents at Streator. The Dan
| Vile district is-used as basis for max
ing scale in Illinois.
Gross Weight Strike.
The fact that the Illinois OPERATOR
and miners are working in harmony, o
at least are working to the same EN-
is taken as conclusive evidence that
mine-run scale will be adopted or ther
will be another struggle, which will b
greater than any that has occurred i
the past. The miners say they wer
never better organized or more thor
! soughly in earnest. All the old war
horses in the United Mine Workers
organization are delegates TO the con
, ference and although they talk con
| servativeiy 1t is noticeable that the
are perfectly confident that whateve
! the outcome the miners will stand to
gether as one man for living wage:
! Another demand that will be made
for an eight-hour day and Saturda
half or whole holiday. This, the min
ers claim, Will regulate the output an
protect the operator as well as IN
miner.
shrewd Move of Operators.
: On the other hand, the eastern or
orators went into the conference Wit
a determination to secure reductio
: in the present scale to 54 cents in IN
Pittsburg district. The object of tn
: is said to be for the purpose OF forcin
n compromise en- SO cents for screene
coal. Before the meeting opened IN
| miners delegates declared that the
/ should select the presiding officer OF tr
ioint conference. Heretofore the opel
ators have always selected this ofhci'
and given the secretaryship to the mlr
ers. The reversal of this order was d'
; sired by the miners. and Presldel
: Ratchford was named as their cholc
The estimated number Of miners th'
will be affected by the outcome of II
conference is: Pennsylvania, eo'oV
! West Virginia. $4,000; Ohio, 2s.ooo; ~
Ann s.I