The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-27
Both Sides Very Positive in
 Maintaining Their Positions
STRONG SPEECHES ARE MADE
Mir. Farley Leads Off and Says for First Time He Will Advise Strike If the Demands Are Not
 Conceded.

The miners and the operators have not yet reached an agreement on either of the three important demands made by the former-a 60 cent maximum wage, an eight hour day and a two-weeks pay day. The sections agreed to by the joint committee were not contested by the op- orators.
 The joint convention of the delegates of the United Mine Workers and the Ala bama operators reconvened in Fox's Hall yesterday morning at 10 o'clock to hear the report of the joint scale committee. The report was read By MT. John .. Smith of Pocohontas The committee agreed only on three points, those being section Il, which demands that there be no discrimination against auy member q the United Mine Workers; section l3, which requires that the companies keep the mine in good condition, and section 14, which stipulates that miners may trade wherever they desire. All other de- msnds were rejected.
 After the reading of the report was moved that the matter be referred back to the scale committee to see If some sat
  could be reached
 MT. w. R. Fairley of Pratt City, member of the national executive board of the United Mine Workers of America, was then recognized by the chair. MT Farley said:
 T presume MT. Chairman, that that is the only motion which would be in order, but the scale committee spent all day yesterday and they arrived at nothing. l don't see myself any particular good that is to be derived from the action of the scale committee today unless the opera tors are prepared to recede from the po- siton they now occupy. I may say Tor the delegates to this convention that last night I held a conference with MT Aldrich, at his request, and after the conference was held we were no nearer togther than we were before. l want to Say to the operators in particular that there is no use in attempting private conferences unless you are prepared to concede some of the demands made by the miners. (Cries of "Amen"D
 Operators Position.
 "The position assumed by the operators is untenable. They have neither argu- ment nor fact to sustain their position and we propose to stand just where we are Applause from the miners, and some one shouted, "Go ahead, old man!)
 MT Chairman, Alabama has worked long hours just as long as 1t proposes to work, and while there Is no man In this room who realizes the importance of the fact that work should go on in Alabama without stoppage; there is no man in the room who feels the responsibility of the cessation of work more than I do; there is no man who has striven more In the state of Alabama in eight years to keep the peace than have; there has been no man more maligned than l have b4en because I have taken the course that believed to be the best for the miners and operators. But we have reached a stage in the history of Alabama when we have got to can halt In other words, we have reached a stage In the history of this state when the miners are going to demand a fair share of the prosperity that God Almighty has blessed you with
 q don't remember in all of the years that I have associated with the miners
 
 one that am placed in this morning There has been in all of the years past a measure of fairness displayed by the operators until this year. l have faced the music from the miners when they believed that I was advocating some thing that I should not. I have done my duty with a clear conscience on every occasion, and l say to the operators this morning, knowing the full meaning and understanding all the responsibilities the words will carry, that unless the opera tors are disposed to concede some of those demands that I will, for the first time in the history of my life. advise the miners to strike" Applause. and cheers from the miners)
 "That is the position. gentlemen, whether ycu realize it or not, but 1t Is a cold fact. want to assure you that we are net playing any blum game We are in dead earnest, and we propose, before any contract are entered Into, that con cossions will come to our people.
 "Now gentlemen, 1 don't know that I need, to say another word at this stage of the proceedings, only to repeat again that 1t is no use for any operator to seek private conferences with me, unless he Is prepared to offer something from his side that will preserve peace. There is no use in giving us what was given Us vest erGny with the expectation that we are eoins to give in, because we are rot. I have no..,ing more to say. am perfectly willins for tre joint commit teesto take up this business. if that Is the f5S t Al -s tz- . .lall.t &t ---s-l