The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-31
The Real Battle VIII Begin When
Both Sides Meet i'm TOmIinsOn
Hall This Morning.
BANQUET AT TOMLINSON HALL
CENTRAL LABOR UNION ENTERTAINS
IN A REMARKABLE WAY.
There Were Covers Laid for Over
Fifteen Hundred Men-Speeches
and Vaudeville Programme.

The toint conference Of the bituminouS
coal operators of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and
Pennsylvania, and the United Mine Work
ers of America convened in Tomlinson Hall
at IL O'Clock yesterday morning, took the
preliminary steps toward organizing the
convention and then adjourned until
o'clock this morning, when the real busi-
ness of the conference will begin. A good
re representation of the operators in the inter-
state agreement was present. They sat
as a body on the east side of the hall.
but many mingled with the delegates to
the miners convention. Before and after
the meeting there was cordial handshak-
ing between the employers and employed
and a spirit of good feeling characterized
the opening session.
President John Mitchell. of the United
Mine Workers, called the convention to
order at 80 Walter s. Boyle, an Indiana
operator, moved that President Mitchell
act as temporary chairman of the conven-
tion. There being no other name mentioned
he presided. The committees on credentials
and rules of order were then appointed, two
representatives from each side being al
lowed to each State. The districts made
their own selections, as follows:
tors, j. C. Kolsem and Phil H. Penna
Indiana miners. James A. Hooper. of the
bituminous field. and Robert Salmond, of
the block coal field; Illinois operators. j.
a. Agee and A. ]. Mooreshead Illinois
miners, l. n. SpainhOwer and William
Tophan; Ohio operators, II. L. Chapman
and j. H Winder; Ohio miners, George w
Savage and William Green; Pennsylvania
operators O. A. Blackburn and George
Magoon: Pennsylvania miners William
Dodds and Abraham Davis. The commit
tee organized by electing Mr. Blackburn
chairman and Mr.. Dodds secretary.
Committee on Rules of Order-Indiana
operators, j. Smith Talley and A. NJ Ogle;
Indiana miners, Samuel Lynch. of the block
district and w. H. Taylor, of the bitumi-
nous district Illinois operators T.. L. Bent
and f. S. Peabody; Illinois miners George
Bagwell and NJ. A. Langergan; Ohio op-
orators, S A McManigal and II. b. Nye;
Ohio miners William Morgan and Thomas
Cairns; Pennsylvania operators. George w.
Schluedeberg and W. j. Phillips; Pennsyl-
Vania miners William Little and Samuel
Gaskill. The committee organized by elect
ing MIR. Talley chairman and Mr.. Bagweu
secretary. The rules governing former con-
operators 10 have the chairman of the
joint conference and the miners the secre-
tary.
MIR. ROBBINS'S ENTRY.
There was quite a commotion in the hall
when Francis L. Robbins. of Pittsburg.
entered He is the recognized leader Of the
Pennsyiva MIA coal operators and Is the
dominating factor in joint conferences in
settling the scale The miners nudged one
another he entered and whispered
That's him." and even the operators
turned to who coming and COM
mented on his arrival. Mr.. Robbins is a
large man, with a kindly looking cOunte-
nance and talks freely with the miners
There will be no preliminaries before get
ting down 10 business when the convention
opens this morning. The permanent chair
man and secretary will be elected and then
the scale will be submitted. The operators
may make a demand for a reduction in
wages and then the miners Will submit
their scale The convention will then de-
eide on which proposition the conference
shall debate. Each side says the other is