The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-01
G. w. Traer, Chairman Of the Meet
ing, Says Capital and Labor
Should Not BE Identical.
CONTEST OVER THE SCALE
USUAL STRUGGLE AFTER APPOINT
MENT OF COMMITTEE.
Operators Say Miners Demands Are
Absurd, and Miners Say
sits Not So.-

The coal operators and miners Of In
diana, Illinois. Ohio and Pennsylvania are
now engaged in an effort by arbitration
TO settle on a satisfactory scale of wages
and conditions. No session was held yes
terday morning on account of the hall not
being cleared of the tables left from the
banquet the night before In the after
noon the miners submitted their scale, en-
bodying the concessions asked OF their
employers. The preliminary sparring over
the scale places the operators i'm the posi-
tion of being opposed to making any con-
cession, and the miners of insisting that
everything they ask be granted
President John Mitchell, of the United
Mine Workers, called the convention 10
order at o'clock yesterday afternoon. Ths
committee on rules and order recommend
ed the same rules that governed last
years conference and named G. w. Traer,
an Illinois operator, as chairman; w. b.
Wilson, secretary-tre of the United
Mine Workers, secretary, and s. L.
Scroggs. representing the operators, as
sistant secretary. On motion Of F. l.. Rob-
bins, the report was adopted and with a
short and well-worded speech Mr.. Traer
took the chair. He said: 1T has been said
that the interests of capital and labor are
identical. 1 do not concur in that belief.
In my opinion labor and capital are and
should be allies Allies not for their per-
sonal profit alone. but who have separate
and distinct interests yet have the one
great purpose. that of industrial peace"
The appointment of the scale committee
was the next order OF business and the fol-
lowing operators and miners were named
by their respective districts:
Pennsylvania Operators.-Principals F.
J.. Robbins, George w. Schuedelburg, O. A.
Blackburn, W. Il. Rogers. alternates Geo.
G. Magoon, John Blythe, James Shields.
Walter Calverly. Miners-Principals: Pat
DOlan. John McGinty. Ed Soppitt, William
DOdds; alternates, Uriah Bellinham, Geo.
Dagger, Frank McKenna, NJ Charltca.
Ohio Observation-Disclosures: ]. H. Win
+. Maurer: alternates, Walter J. Mullens.
J: NJ. Roam. T.. j. Morgan, j. j. Roby.
Miners-PrinciPals: T. l.. Lewis, w. II.
Haskins, ID. III. Sullivan, George w. Saw
age; alternates Robert Legg Michael Col
Inns. Oliver ChanneIl. Alexander Smith.
Indiana Bituminous Operators.-Princi-
pals: Walter Boyle, Hugh Shrke; alter
mates, Job Freeman. Z. NJ. Pierce Miners
Principals: w. ID. Van Horn. j. g. Heenan;
alternates, J. NJ. Boyle. w. II. Webster.
Indiana Block Coal Operators.-Princi-
pals: James II. McClellen William Risher:
alternates, William Zeller, w. r. Expert,
Miners-Principals William Wilson. Harry
Wright; alternates. S. s. Lynch. John
Swain
Illinois Observation-Disclosures: II. n. Tay-
lor. w ". Keefer, George T. Cults. F. S.
Lukins. A. ]. Mooreshead. 9. z. Hull.
Miners Principals w. r. Russell T. ].
Reynolds, W. ID. Ryan. j. B. Wilson: alter
mates, j. p Reese, II. c. Perry William
On motion of II. ". Taylor. an operator.
the national officers of the United Mine
Workers were made ex officio members OF
he ~ Q
miners, moved to extend the same courtesy
10 the operators. Mr. Robbins took the
the operators had no officers. but that last
year the commissioners Of the operators
We're placed on the committee TO represent
them. He said this method did not give the
operators proper representation. and that
hereafter the Pennsylvania operators will
object 10 any one being placed on the COM
mittee 10 represent the operators but the
a. Cunningham, OF Cincinnati. moved
that no scale should be adopted unless IL IL
signed by all Of the members of the COM
mittee. The motion carried.
George w. Maxwell. chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee OF the National Irriga-
ton Congress. was allowed the floor TO
make an address on the reclamation Of the
arid lands OF the West by irrigation. He
said Industrial peace cannot continue unless
there is work given 10 the toilers and that
the present unparalleled prosperity al
luded TO by Mr.. Traer in his opening ad-
dress, cannot continue unless there are
means prONlGe0 TO regulate supply and de-
mand. He spoke at length against capital
lists being allowed 10 purchase great tracts
of land in the West and keep them for
ranch purposes. and said that the govern
ment should irrigate the lands 10 make
homes for the working classes.
FOR \ BOARD OF REFEREES.
o. L. Garrison, president OF the Illinois
Operators Association. asked TO introduce
a resolution. The permission was granted,
and Herman JUST, commissioner for the
Illinois coal operators. presented H. The
re esOlution follows:
Whereas, The American people are deep
ly concerned and profoundly interested I'm
the wise and correct solution OF the labor
problem. and are vitally interested Ia seeing
a problem materially affecting all classes
in our country settled by peaceable. rea-
sOnaDle and wise methods and not by force
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 ioint
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
on many occasions desire for a clear and
explicit definition OF the joint movement
in2ugurated by the coal miners and coal
mine operators. and now IN vogue in many
Of the coal-producing States, and
whereas, such "A definition seems nAc-
essary 10 create fair and healthy public
sentiment as "A basis for just public Opin-
ion. therefore. be IL
Resolved. That the coal miners and coal
mine operators IN joint convention ASSEM-
bled hereby declare:
"First-That this joint movement Ia
founded and that IL Is 10 rest upon correct
business ideas. competitive equality and
upon Well-recognized principles OF Justice
Second-That. recognizing the contract
relations existing between employer and
employe, We believe strikes and lockouts
disputes and friction can be generally
avoided BY meeting IN joint convention