The age-herald., 1899-06-28
MINERS W. T, STAND FIRM
 =
 H@1T Is the D< ation of President $.% Young. /c.$ THEY WE ALWAYS GIVEN IN But Will Not Do It This Time-Conven- tion Scale Called for Minimum of 45 and Maximum
 of 55 Cents

The convention of coal miners of the dis trict, which reassembed again in Birming- ham yesterday morning, held second joint conference with the operators in the after noon, and for the second time failed to come to any agreement. The operators refused to accept the scale adopted by the miners at their mass meet ngs Monday, which, it will be remembered, was recommended by the convention before it adjourned last Saturday. Thereupon the operators submitted a counter proposition to the miners, which the miners will dis cuss this morning at o'clock. The opinion | seems to be among the delegates, however, that this proposition will not be accepted, and President Young stated after the meet
 ing yesterday that the situation looked very much like strike
 "There have been serious situations in all of previous conventions" said he, "but we have always given into to the operators and pre- vented a strike. don't believe, however, that the men going to do that this time.' The Morning Session The convention reassembled yesterday morning with practically the same delegates | in attendance as were here last week. Pres ident Young, Secretary Clemo and Vim Fairly, member of the national executive committee being the officers in attendance. The executive board of the district was not present, it having been decided that they were no longer needed. Reports from all of the locals were heard and all of them except West Pratt said that the scale which had been recom- mended back to them by the convention last Saturday had been approved. West Pratt wanted 55 cents a ton all the year round, with no sliding scale. It will be remembered that this scale provided for a minimum of 45 cents per ton for coal with iron at $760 and under, and a sliding scale from that point on until wages reached 55 cents, which was to be the maximum. This scale also provided for an incerase of 41s cents per ton for mining at Blue Creek, which is at present 9h cents below that of Pratt, and also that all of the common laborers in and around the mine have their wages increased and put on sliding scale. The exact wages of these laborers proposed has never | been given out in full, but under 1t drivers would have their wages increased from $1.27 to $l.46 per day, and other laborers in proportion.
 After hearing the favorable reports which nearly all the locals had given on this scale, the convention unanimously decided to stand by it in the conference which they were to have with the operators in the afternoon.
 There was then some talk on the part of the delegates from some of the mines operated by the Soss Iron and Steel com pany that President Haas of that company was not going to confer with the conven- tion in regard to the wages Of the men in his mines, and accordingly a resolution touching upon the subject was passed
 It turned out to be a useless resolution, however, as Mr. Haas was present with the other operators at the afternoon meet ing of the convention.
 The Afternoon Conference
 At the afternoon conference the Tennes- see, the Sloss and all the other mining com panies of importance in the district were represented. The operators were given off, cial notice of the scale which the miners had adopted at their mass meetings Aon- day, and which the convention was unaninfs ous in insisting that 1t was in every way fair
 The operators did not give their answer at once, but withdrew to another room in the Fox building, where for over an hour they were in close consultation. On their return they reported the following scale, which they insisted was as much as they could possibly pay:
 "A minimum price of 40 cents with
 iron selling at $S10 and under. with
 sliding scale above that point until
 wages reached 52h cents, which should
 be a maximum. Day labor and dead
 work scales to remain the same as at
 present. Other things to remain as at
 present."
 All of which means that there will be no change in wages from the present, except that the minimum is raised from 40 to 45 cents and maximum fixed at 52H. where at present there is no maximum at all. It also means that the day laborers are to get no increase in wages, and that Blue Creek is to have no increase in wages.
 The convention took no action on this proposition yesterday afternoon, but as the hour was getting late they put off discus sion until this morning at o'clock.
 President Young Talks
 "The situation seems to be serious" said President Young after the meeting ad- io,irned ssand if looks as if we are no