The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-08
The Agreement Is Considered by Rep
resentatives of Both sides
a Compromise.
MINERS FESTIVE AT FIRST
A FULL EXPLANATION MADE BEFORE
THEY WOULD YIELD.
Relations Between Miners and Oper-
stors VIII Be Same as Last Year
Nottingham Mine Closed.

There will be no coal strike or lockout.
The United Mine Workers, after being In
session four hours last night, voted TO ac-
cept the proposition of the scale commit
tea reafirmation OF the present scale of
prices. At first when the report OF the
scale committee was received. more than
two-thirds of the delegates protested
against accepting IL, and would have voted
to strike had not the counsel of the MEM
bers OF the committee and officers and full
explanation of the existing conditions
turned the sentiment. When the vote was
taken about midnight the recommendation
OF the committee was almost unanimously
indorsed.
The present scale at the several basing
points is 50 cents ton for screened coal
In Pennsylvania. 80 cents in Ohio. so cents
in the Indiana bituminous district and 20
cents in the block coal district. The scale
on the run of mine system in Indiana and
Illinois at the Danville basing point is As
cents. All other conditions remain the same
as last year with reference TO of mine,
differential between pick and machine min
ing. and other matters left to the sew
eral districts for settlement.
The settlement is somewhat Of a surprise
10 many Of the miners as they generally
expected TO get slight increase. They did
not expect the operators to make the hard
fight for a reduction in wages they did,
but at this time some of the miners
slider themselves lucky to escape a reduc-
tion II was hard for the delegates to be-
ney~- that the scale committee had finally
agreed to offer recommendation for the
readoption OF the present scale, but when
matters were explained in detail. there
tt-fo
ILLINOIS OPERATORS.
Some feeling has been engendered by the
Illinois operators because of their attitude
fp the joint conference. The miners in
sisted on a run-of-mine system throughout
the competitive field and a diferential of
cents between pick and machine mining,
for the purpose Of brining the States east
of Illinois up to that standard and thus
establish uniformity. 1t is said that the
Illinois operators came to the joint con-
feroace with the understanding that they
were to assist In establishing these condi-
t.ons They were friendly in their attitude
until yesterday. when they decided in the
subcommittee. not to vote for a compromise
unlecs the miners forced the operators of
Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania to the Illi-
nois system This placed the miners in
an embarrassing position and would have
forced them t. inaugurate a strike in the
Eastern States to secure the demands or
perhaps lose entirely. The miners saw
they were between two fires. placing the
organization against Illinois on one hand
and against all OF the States east on the
other. They then decided not TO let Illinois
stand In the way of an agreement, to vote
for the adoption OF the old scale and force
Illinois 70 accept IT.
IL was expected at the opening session of
the subcommittee yesterday morning that
a settlement would be effected in time to
have il ratified by the joint conference but
the position taken by the Illinois operators
held up" the settlements. The subcommit-
tee adjourned late in the afternoon TO allow
the Illinois operators to hold a meeting.
IT reconvened at o'clock, and after be-
ing in session for an hour reached an agree
rnent A meeting OF the general scale
committee had been called for 6:15. and all
of the members were waiting for the re-
port OF the subcommittee.
GENERAL COMMITTEE NET
The general committee was called to-
gether Immediately after the adjournment
of the subcommittee and 1t took but half
an hour 10 ratify the decision of the
former. meeting of the miners had been
called In Masonic Hall for o'clock to con-
slider the report OF the general committee
and decide whether IL should be an agree
ment or disagreement in order that the
Joint conference might adjourn to-day The
miners were all in the hall when the report
was submitted and Immediately opened a
discussion against adopting il. The fol-
lowed four hours debate which satisfied
the miners that a settlement on last years
prices would be equitable TO both miners
and operators. and they voted TO accept the
condition with pleasant faces.
While the miners lost every demand they
made of the operators, yet the operators
do not claim a victory nor do the miners
consider that they were whipped. The de-
mand OF the operators for a 10 per cent
reduction. which wzs at first regarded by
the miners as a joke. was so firmly sup
ported tha; the opinion that the operators
were ''biufing soon dispelled. This
PLACID each side in the position OF making
demands. and the settlement is regarded
by both as compromise and the best thing
that could be done by them At no time
during the sessions Of the committees or
the conference did the miners favor a strike
nor did the operators express a desire for
lockout They both said they wanted a
peaceabe settlement. and a weeks media
tion got II. although at times IL looked
as IL the two forces would never get to-
gsther.
As soon as the general committee agreed
on the scale many OF the operators took
the night trains for home. and after the
meeting Of the miners many of the latter
also started for home without waiting for