The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-30
Union Representatives and Oper-
ators From Competitive Dis
tricts Begin Their Labors.
WARM FIGHTS ANTICIPATED.
Indiana Capitalists Insist That
Pending Legislation in That
State Puts Them Under
Handicap.

Indianapolis, JAM % The Joint wage con-
ference between the miners and operators Of
the central competitive bituminOus coal
district composed Of Western Pennsylva-
nia. Ohio. Indiana and Illinois. began here
to-day.
President Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers. called the conference to order and
was selected temporary chairman. The Sc
lection Of different committeeman by the
different States by both the operators and
the miners was Immediately taken up.
About $50 operators and 400 miners were
present al the opening session.
Joint committees, consisting Of two
miners and two operators from each State.
with the exception of the Wage Scale Com
mittee, were appointed to-day.
Committees on credentials and rules
and order of business were announced
The permanent organization will be per
fected tomorrow, and the sixteen members
of the Scale Committee from each side will
be appointed. 1t is probable that G. W.
Traer of Chicago will be elected president
of the joint conference, and w. B. Wilson.
secretary of the United Mine Workers. Sec
rotary.
Phil Penna. commissioner for the Indiana
operators, called attention TO the fact that
there is now pending in the Legislature of
the State shot-firing bill, which, he said.
if enacted. will compel the operators to em-
ploy mine shooters.
For that reason. he said, 1t is not just
that the Indiana operators should have to
come into the convention on the same basis
with the operators from the other districts
of the central competitive field. The debate
was heated and this Is taken to mean that
bitter fight may be precipitated before the
conference ends. Secretary Wilson of the
L. NJ. w. A. replied to Mr.. Penna. He said:
WILSON REPLIES.
Il cannot understand the Indiana opera
tors in raising this question at this time.
This convention is composed of operators
and miners from four different parts Of the
country l think the subject is brought up
at this time FOR the purpose of influencing
the Legisla ture in It's action on the btll.''
Mr.. W. s. Boyle answered Mr.. Wilson.
Said he:
"'One side is organized labor: on the other
the employers
Organized capital shouted voice
from the audience.
yes continued Mr. Boyle. cor trusts or
corporations or monopolies or whatever you
are pleased to call US. 1t is the same to
US. We find organized labor insisting on a
bill which will put burcens upon the op-
orators OF Indiana that do not have to be
borne, by operators In other States. This
shot-firing bill puts upon the operators ex-
penses and responsibility of doing some CT
the work of the miners
President Mitchell said:
Il think that this is not the time to
bring this matter u?. II would properly
come up at the time the report of the Gre
dentials Committee is submitted: l can say.
workers. that we viii make no specific
pledge to any delegate seeking seat in
this convention. Any delegation can defeat
this scale II it SO desires or can withdraw
at any time. There can be no injustice in
the matter"
The operators are generally united as to
policy. The general expression from them
IS that they Will not submit to the demands
OF the miners for an increase of wages as
formulated blythe scale committee. They
say that three years ago they granted an
increase of wages of 20 per cent and two
and they believe that no increase Is due the
miners this year. The miners say they will
district will suspend operations on April l..