The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-22
ADVANCE In WAGE SCALE
THE OPERATORS ARE DISPOSED TO
MAKE CONCESSIONS.
1t Is Thought, However, that the
joint Conference Will Be Long
One-Operators Here.

The first of the coal operators. who will
confer with the members of the United
Mine Workers with the view of fixing the
wage scale for this present year. began to
arrive yesterday afternoon and by mid
night about one-fourth of all those ex-
pected were in the different hotels.
Most OF them are from Illinois. Iowa and
Ohio. however, and the Pennsylvania
operators are not expected before this
morning
The first step to-day will be to hold a
joint meeting of the operators in the
competing States"-Indiana, Illinois, Ohio
and Pennsylvania-in order TO fully under
stand what the operators in the several
States desire and what it will be TO their
mutual advantage to ask. There can be
no doubt about the willingness of the
operators, as individuals. to grant ma
terial increase in the scale, but there is a
general fear among the operators that the
demands of the miners will be such that
either the mines will be compelled to close
or be operated by nonunion labor and
thereby precipitate a strike of immense
proportions. The operators rely much on
the executive ability and good sense of
President Mitchell, of the Mine Workers
TO keep both sides out of trouble. There is
a settled determination on the part of
the operators not to pay the increase of
% cents ton asked for by some of the
more radical of the miners. while, at the
same time. they are willing to grant a
substantial increase.
TALK OF AN OPERATOR.
J. S. Wylie, of Davenport, Ia, who
operates two large mines in the La Sale.
ILL.,, district, talked good humoredly last
night at the Denison about the prospects
of an increase in the pay OF the miners.
ut looks as though we We're not to have
much to say about the price to be paid.
said he. 1.-The men have set their minds
on having more money and it looks to
me though all we had to do would be
to pay ii. L haven't had any trouble in
my mines for years and the chief reason
for this has been that / have granted
nearly every request the men have made.
Therell be an advance in the scale with
out a doubt and 1 believe the operators
are generally willing to give it,
j. Smith Talley, of Terre Haute, Presi-
dent of the Indiana Association of Blum
nous Coal Operators, gave as his opinion
that an advance would certainly be made.
and that there was no disposition on the
part of the operators to withhold from
the men any portion of the general pros.
perity. 1t is said by operators from the
four competing States" that Mr. Talley
would preside over the meeting of the
operators to-day at the German House.
Capt John Il. Lucas. of Chicago. who
Is a member OF the operators association
of four States. said last night that. by
reason of his connection with the various
operators associations. he was In posi-
ton TO say that the sentiment was almost
unanimous that an advance would be made
to the miners and that opinion was gen.
eral that the offer of the operators would
paid. He said it would be idle for the min
ers to stand out for more than that as
rather than pay any more the operators
would shut down the mines, because, until
West Virginia is unionized, the coal fields
of that State are menace to the operators
who want to pay far wages. He said that
IL the miners insist on an advance of %
cents ton as contemplated by several
delegations they will practically tie the
hands of the operators and enable the
West Virginia operators, even with longer
and more expensive hauls TO market. to
unload their coal on the market at figures
too low for any competition.
A LONG CONFERENCE.
There is every reason to believe at this
time that the conference between the min
ers and operators will continue anywhere
from eight days to three weeks before any
scale is agreed to. The one held last year
at Pittsburg continued eight days and it
is considered that greater and more vexing
questions are to be settled this year than
last
In addition to the operators. there will
be several representatives from the trunk
line railroads, which are always affected
to a large degree by any change in the
wage scale. John j. Hart, of the Chicago,
Rock Island & Pacific, was at the Deni-
son yesterday and said that, his road
used 100000 tons year and was compelled
to buy its supply not only from all the
States through which it passed, but also
from Indiana and Ohio, the question of
even a slight advance in price was of vital
interest. Harry Lloyd, Of the Chicago. Mil
waukee & st. Paul road, was with Mr..
Hart.
Ii was said yesterday that the anthracite
coal operators would not be represented at
the conference.