The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-19
Joint Conference Results in
Starting a Movement To-
wards a Settlement
ONLY HITCH LIES IN THE
SELECTION OF ARBITERS
Both Sides Show Disposition to Do
What Is Right. and Another Joint
Meeting VIII Be Held Mon
day-several Speeches.

The miners and operators came to-
gether yesterday in a reconvention of
the Joint conference and strong hopes ex-
list that peace may be in sight If 1t car
ries through arbitration, as now seems
probable, it will rest on a stronger basis
than ever before.
Both the miners and operators have Of
| fered arbitration propositions. The pro-
positions are practically identical as to the
matters to be decided by the arbitration
commission. They split temporarily on
the method of choosing the board.
The operators will meet on Monday
morning and formulate new proposition
and the miners and operators will come
together in Joint conference on Monday
afternoon.
The questions proposed for arbitration
are the wage SCALE the eight-hour work
day and the semi-monthly pay day.
MINERS PROPOSED 1T.
The miners informally proposed arbi-
tration to the Operators association
which was in session at the Commercial
club rooms and invited the operators to
joint conference on the matters in
volved. The operators went into the joint
conference and offered a written pro-
posal by which they withdrew the offer
of two and one-half cents advance on the
maximum and minimum, and suggested
open arbitration of all questions in con-
/ troversy. The operators proposal covered
an arbitration commission of five-two to
be named by the miners, two by the oper-
ators. and the fifth member to be either
the United States Circuit Judge of the
Fifth United States circuit or either of
the United States Judges of Alabama.
These judges are Don A. Pardee of New
Orleans, Harry T. Toulmin of Mobile and
Thomas G. Jones of Montgomery. The
miners refused absolutely to choose the
fifth man from these three. The object
of the meeting on Monday is to reach
some agreement as to choosing a fifth
arbitrator, without unnecessary delay,
and one who will be acceptable to both.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
The proceedings in detail were as fol-
lows:
Chairman Flynn called the convention
of the United Mine Workers Of America,
District 20, together at II a. m. and there
at once went into executive session.
At 1890 p. m. the convention took a
recess until 2 p. m.
At D. m. the miners met in executive
session, and appointed committee, con-
sisting of Joseph WalworK, T. H. Fem
ME. Adam Stewart John. lizard tcoioreD
and P. r. Murray (colored), with William
r. Farley as adviser, to wait upon the
operators association who were holding a
meeting at the Commercial club rooms,
and present a proposition for the settle
ment of existing differences. and to meet
In joint conference on the same.
The proposition of the miners was pre-
scented to the operators at $3.50 o'clock. 1t
was not written but was stated orally by
Mr.. Farley. The proposition was stated
by President Edward Flynn of the Mine
Workers to have been as follows: 1.-THE
miners waive the 21h cents advance Of
fered by the operators, and offer to ar
bitrate the whole wage scale question,
including the eight-hour day and the
semi-monthly pay day" The committee
also invited the operators to meet the
miners in joint conference at 4:30 o'clock.
OPERATORS JOIN THEM.
The operators accepted the invitation Of
the miners committee and at 4:30 came
into the convention hall. Among the
prominent operators in attendance were
Capt. T. G.. Bush, ]. C. Maben, w. II.
Hassinger, G. w. Mccormick, E. NJ. Tut
wiler, b. F. Roden, A. H. Carpenter. ]. w.
Mcaueen, F. M Jackson, T. II. Aldrich,
Walker Percy, j. M. Franklin, J. II.
Adams. Captain Solely and Robert
Stevens.
Chairman Flynn called the joint conven-
tIon to order, and Mr.. Farley spoke
briefly to this effect:
"I may say TO the operators that we
are now waiting to hear from them, as
to whether or not they are willing to ar
bitrate the three propositions we have
made to them. These three propositions
are the wage scale, the s-nour working
day. and the semi-monthly pay day. We
can go no. further until we hear from
them
CAPTAIN BUSH SPEAKS.
Capt. T. G. Bush, on behalf of the oper-
ators, replied to Mr. Farley, and said in
part:
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