The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-05
While Good Humor Prevails, the Con-
tending Forces Are Far from
a Settlement.
EACH SIDE VOTES SOLIDLY
MINERS WILL DISCUSS SCALE AMONG
THEMSELVES TO-DAY.
Operators Are Opposed to Increase in
Wages and the Run-of-
Mine System.

The coal miners and operators have now
disagreed on every proposition before the
joint conference in both committee and
convention, but this does not mean that no
settlement will be reached. 1t is simply the
end of the preliminary sparring and both
sides will get down to business and
agree or disagree in earnest The scale
committee yesterday afternoon reported its
disagreement on all of the propositions
submitted to it, the miners voting solidly
in favor Of their demands and the oper-
ators solidly against them. The conven-
ton then took UP the scale and was as
successful in disagreeing on every thing
as the scale committee had been. After
the operators and miners decided that they
could not agree the conference adjourned
till 9 o'clock this morning to allow the
miners to hold a meeting and determine
what they will do about it. If former pro-
grammes of joint conferences are carried
out the matter will be again discussed and
referred to a subcommittee for settlement
When the scale is left to a subcommittee
then the fight will begin in earnest and
an agreement or disagreement will be
reached.
The scale committee yesterday morning
the scale submitted by the miners-a de-
mand for differential of cents between
pick and machine mining, an advance in
the wages of drivers and inside workmen
to s2.25 day and 10 per cent. increase,
an open powder market and the check-off
system for competitive fields. As it was
evident that the operators would refuse
all of the demands made by the miners
the committee did not think it necessary
to go into any lengthy discussions and de-
cided to refer the matter back to the con-
vention in the afternoon, although it had
been the intention to not report until to-
morrow. Some of the miners had objected
to the scale being referred to the commit
tee when ii was, saying they were not al
lowed TO debate the subject. In view of
this fact and TO satisfy all, the committee
decided to curtail its arguments and let
the convention have its report as soon as
possible.
REPORT SUBMITTED.
Chairman Traer. of the joint conference,
called the convention to order at 2 o'clock
yesterday afternoon. and Secretary Brooks,
OF the scale committee. submitted the re-
port that the committee had failed to agree
on any of the propositions. President John
Mitchell. of the United Mine Workers,
moved to accept the report of the commit
tee and discuss the scale in open conven-
ton The motion carried and Secretary
Wilson then read the scale. Mr. Mitchell
moved to adopt the scale 10 make an open
ing for debate. He said: ''I do not propose
10 take up much more time in discussion
IL seems that no matter what the advance
I'm the price OF coal has been according 10
the figures submitted by the mine workers
the operators deny IL and offer no figures
I'm opposition" He said the miners had
produced figures showing that the price of
coal had been advanced in every State and
added, 1T seems strange that In this pass
ing period OF prosperity the operators re-
fuse TO grant advance" AS 10 the run
of-mlne system. he said the operators had
not attempted to oppose 1t in argument and