The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-27
THE FAILURE OF THE COAL
NEGOTIATION.

The failure Of the coal operators and
miners to reach a settlement of their diff
culties outside of the commission will cause
disappointment and surprise-disappoint-
ment because the public is tired Of the
controversy, and surprise because it was
thought the acquiescence of both parties
in the movement insured its success. The
public can only speculate as to the cause
OF its failure, for it is by no means certain
that the real reasons appear In the state
ment of the independent operators.
1t was understood that the proposition
for an outside settlement came from the
combined operators upon the suggestion
of the commission, and that the individual
operators would join in the settlement.
The protest against the proceeding comes
from the individual operators, and IL seems
to have been accepted at once by the rail-
road operators as a bar to further ne
gotiations. 1t may be that the independent
operators think they stand a better chance
of getting justice from the commission than
they would in a settlement in which they
would be outcIassed and outvoted by the
railroad operators. 1t will be membe
that while they were not an original party
to the creation of the commission they
were allowed by the commission to inter-
vene after its sittings began. and thus be-
came a party to the cause, represented by
counsel, etc. Their interests are different
from those of the railroad operators in
that they have to pay freight to the lat
ter. and probably discriminating rates.
They can bring this matter before the COM
mission and get some kind OF an express
sion upon it. whereas in a settlement by
the two main parties to the controversy
1t would probably be entirely ignored. The
freight question is a vital one for the in
dependent operators, and their interests
in this regard are so antagonistic to those
Of the railroad operators that they could
not hope for justice in a negotiation in
which they would be treated as an outside
party. The commission. on the contrary.
is bound to do them justice because it has
recognized their standing in court.
The protest OF the independent operators
does not disclose any motive OF antagonism
to the railroad operators. On the contrary,
1t is based on the alleged ground Of COM
mon interests in securing a vindication
before the public and in compelling the
miners union to take its proper place rela-
tive to their business. They represent that
an outside settlement at this stage of the
proceedings, before the operators have in
troduced any evidence in support of their
1.-&o%;~~- vN,,lI 10 an,s,la~% g. N
confession on their part that all the charges
of the miners are true and would strength
en- and perpetuate the power of the union.
To quote their language: "If this settle
ment be made now, when not q single wit
ness has been called on our part, or on
your behalf. 1t would be. in the eyes of the
public, a confession that we have hereto
fore been guilty of all the offenses charged
against us by the mine workers, and would
be an absolute and distinct surrender to
the miners union, and the troubles will
not only be continued, but so magnified as
to be absolutely u~nbearable." For these
reasons the independent operators with
drew from the proposed negotiation and
protested against any further proceeding
In that direction. The Independent oper-
ators are as much interested in getting
rid of the miners union as the railroad
operators are. and it may be they think
a decision by the commission is the best
means of doing that as well as of getting
a solution of the freight question. At all
events, their protest brought the negotia-
ton to a sudden end, and on next Wednes-
day the commission will resume its work.
task, with a certainty that no conclusion
1t may reach will be satisfactory to all
of the contending parties. though. fortu-
nately, they have all agreed to abide by it.