The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-09
Indianapolis, In the Face of Some OPP
position, Selected as the Next
Place of Meeting.
IOWA STILL OUT IN THE COLD
A TIE VOTE on ADMITTING THE
STATE DECIDED BY THE CHAIR.
Resolution Introduced by Herman
Justi, of uIinOis-OperatOrs
and Miners Go Home.

The Joint conference of the coal opera
tors and miners Of Indiana. Illinois. Ohio
and Pennsylvania met in Tomlinson Hall
yesterday morning and formally ratified the
agreement made by the scale committee,
which reafirms the old scale Of prices for
the year beginning April 1. The miners
agreed to accept the recommendation of
the after a four hours debate
Friday night, and when the vote was put
20 the joint conference there was not one
dissenting voice. The present scale was
adopted in the joint conference held in In
dianapolis two years ago. when the miners
were granted a % per cent. increase III
wages The scale was reaflrmed in Column
bus, o., last year, and this will be the third
year for the present scale.
Indianapolis was chosen for the next
meeting place of the joint conference. and
the date set is the last Thursday in Jan
uary. 1903. The Pennsylvania miners and
some of the Ohio miners voted against the
joint conference being held in this city and
wanted Pittsburg, but the delegates were
reminded that the convention of the min
srs instructed them to vote for Indian
apolis. They held a short conference and
then reported that in view Of the fact that
they had been instructed 10 vote for In
dianapolis and no protest had been made
in the convention they would vote for this
city.
The question of admitting Iowa and
other States not in the joint movement into
the agreement was taken up with the same
old result, Iowa being shut out. The Illi-
nois operators and all of the miners voted
to admit Iowa. but the operators of In
diana, Ohio and Pennsylvania voted against
it. The chair ruled that as the question
was one OF Importance 10 the joint move
ment a unanimous vote would be necessary.
An appeal was taken from the chair, which
resulted in a tie vote. The chair then ruled
that a tie vote sustained the chair, which
settled the question. The action applied TO
all other States outside the agreement.
After the scale was adjusted Herman JUS
ii, commissioner for the Illinois Coal Opera
tors Association, asked that his resolution
providing for a board to settle all differ
ences existing In the joint movement be
considered. The resolution was referred to
the scale committee by the joint confer
ence. The committee tabled the resolution
after striking out the last clause, which
provided for a board Of arbitration. The
conference considered the resolution and
adopted it with the exception of the last
clause. Some of the miners did not wish to
vote for it. as they had not had time to
consider it.
JUSTTS RESOLUTION.
The resolution follows:
Whereas, The American people are deep
ly concerned and profoundly interested in
the wise and correct solution of the labor
problem and are vitality interested in seeing
a problem materially affecting all classes
in our country settled by peaceable, rea-
sonable and wise methods and not by force
or threats of force, by imposing hardships
or threatening 10 impose hardships upon
the masses of the people; and,
Whereas, thoughtful and observing peo-
pie everywhere are watching with pro-
found interest and deep solicitude the joint
movement OF coal mine operators and coal
miners in the central coal-mining States
and of other cOal-mining States of the
Union and have shown in many ways and
OIL many occasions a desire for a clear and
explicit definition OF the joint movement
i~naugurated by the coal miners and coal
mine operators and now in vogue in many
OF the cO~al-producing States; and.
Whereas. Such a definition seems nee
essary TO create a fair and healthy public
sentiment as a basis for a just pubic opin-
Resolved, That the coal miners and coal
mine operators IN joint convention assem-
bled hereby declare:
founded and that 1t is 10 rest upon correct
business ideas. competitive equality. and
upon wel-recOSnized principles OF justice.
SeCOnd-That, recognizing the contract
relations existing between employer and
employe. we believe strikes and Iockouts,
disputes and friction can be generally
avoided by meeting in joint convention
and by entering into trade agreements for
specified periods of time.
'"Third-That we recognize the sacredness
and binding nature OF contracts or agree
IN honor to keep inviOlate such contracts
or agreements made by or between a
voluntary organization. having no stand
ing I'm court. on the one hand. and & merely
collective body of business men doing busi-
ness individually or in corporate capacity
on the other, each of the latter class hav-
ing visible and tangible assets subject to
sFourth-That we deprecate, discourage
and condemn any departure whatsoever
agreements or contracts unless such de-
parture IS deemed by all parties i'm interest
Tor the welfare of the coal mining industry
and for the public good as well. and that
such departure is first definitely, specihcal-
ly and mutually agreed upon by all parties
IN interest
s'Fffth-Such contracts or agreements
having been entered into. we consider our
selves severally and collectively bound in
honor TO carry them out in good faith in
letter and spirit, and are so pledged TO use
our influence and authority to enforce these
contracts and agreements. the more SO
since they rest in the main upon mutual
confidence as their basis.
This resolution more closely binds the
operators and miners TO their agreements,
and II Is the HISl TIME lAdl dnylnlnE or
that nature other than the mere signing
Of the scale was ever adopted b. the joint
conference TO bind the agreement. This
IS the fifth joint conference the operators
and miners OF the four competitive States
have held. and since the movement began
there has been a noticeable decrease in the
number Of strikes. The fact that the
operators and miners never had "a harder
time to get together than in the confer
ence that has just adjourned, yet held on
until an agreement was reached. shows
that neither side wants TO break the agree
ment and prefers 10 settle their scale and
differences each year in this peaceable
manner instead OF going back to the old
methods of strife which necessarily fol-
lowed when there was nothing 10 estab-
lish uniformity in the competitive districts.
a committee selected at the conference
signed the scale at the Denison Hotel at
/ o'clock yesterday afternoon. That fin
ished the work of the joint conference and
the operators and miners shook hands. bid
each other farewell and left for their homes
with mutual good feeling.