Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-02-01
A STORMY CONFERENCE.
Fierce Wransis Between Miners and
Operators at the Interstate Meeting
I'm Indianapolis.

in indianapolis.
indianapolis, Jan. 25.-There was
two hours session Wednesday after
noon of the Joint conference between
the delegates from the United Mine
Workers Of America and those from
the Interstate Operators association
and so much bad feeling was engen-
dered that II was deemed advisable TO
adjourn until to-day to allow the feel
ing to subside.
The wrangle started when the Gre
dentials committee reported division
on the matter of admitting the dele
gates and operators from Iowa, which
was decided by the chairman against
the miners and continued until Chair
man Boyle had called Delegate Ryan
a liar.
Immediately upon calling the ses-
sion to order Chairman IiOgle asked
for the report of the committee ON
credentials and Chairman Dilcher re-
ported it had been decided that the
states of Indiana. Ohio, Pennsylvania
and Illinois were entitled to repreScn-
tation in the joint conference. When
it came to considering the admission
OIL iowa illtIt NIS Il INV lNibh" t!l' 'l'-
orators opposing and the miners IA
voring it. The roll call resulted in 4
tie. The chairman then announced
that he was entitled to east the de-
Gliding vote and voted no, thus debar-
ring the state.
In speaking on the motion to admit
West Virginia, f. l.. Robbins OBJ
iccted to bringing the state into the
competitive field for the reason that
at the Chicago conference two years
ago an effort was made to get West
Virginia in, and it was defeated be-
cause the state had not been organ
lied. The miners had violated their
promise TO organize this state and, as
result. the operators there were not
paying the scale. Under this consid-
Grafton they were able to mine coal
and put it on the market cheaper than
could be done in the competitive field,
where the scale was paid.
After the scale committees had been
named motion was made to allow
the delegates not seated to have a seat
in the conference, without a voice
This started the trouble. The motion
was lost, the miners voting against it,,
giving as their reason THAT the dele
gates ought to be admitted to the full
privilege or not at all. During the
discussion. Secretary William y. Ryan
said Il do not propose to stand for
the bulldoZing tactics of this chairman
and | do not think you will stand for
it. He has shown himself TO be two
faced. After saying he had our inter-
eSts as much as the operators to
watch, he turns around and votes
squarely against every proposition we
advance"
Chairman Boyle replied by saying.
81 feel very much hurt at the accusa-
tions made against me by the delegate,
because | think there Is no foundation
for them"
He then reviewed the law on his rul-
inc and, as he finished walked to the
front of the stage and. shaking his
finger at Ryan, said: Il do not pro-
pose to be insulted by any man. | did
not want the craftsmanship of this
conference and | do not want it now,
and | say that the delegate who has
accused me of being two-faced is a
| liar"
\ tumultuous discussion of parlia-
mentary rules followed and the mo-
| ton to adjourn was with difficulty
gotten before the house. Much feel
! ing is shown on both sides. The oper-
ators clearly Outgeneraled the miners
! in their efforts to get Iowa and West
| Virginia admitted and the miners have
determined to not give up the fight.