The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-05
SETTLEMENT Is In SIGHT
MINERS AND OPERATORS TO HAVE
OPEN CONFERENCE TO-DAY.
Operators Cease to Fear the "ShOt
Firers'" BilI-Their Attitude To-
ward that Measure.

The joint conference of the miners and
operators Of the central competitive field
will meet in Tomlinson Hall again this
morning to openly discuss the differences
that are continuing the struggle between
the two factions over the adoption of a
wage scale to go in force on April l and
be effective for the year following that
date. The conference will meet after the
adjournment of the meeting of the joint
scale committee of thirty-two members.
which will be held earlier in the morning
at the Hotel English. What the conference
may develop is little known. 1t is known,
however, that the possibilities of an early
agreement are becoming more remote and
no decisive action is expected during the
day. By Saturday it is hoped by both sides
that a settlement may have been reached
and new scale adopted.
Yesterday was day of many meetings.
The subcommittee of the joint scale COM
mittee met during the day as did the joint
scale committee in entirety. 1t is under
stood that the meetings were called to be
informed of the deliberations of the COM
mittee meeting of Indiana miners and oper-
ators held yesterday morning in the Hotel
English. The Indiana men met to talk
over the so-called shot firers' BILL" now
pending in the Legislature. The committee
met with both sides firm for their original
positions-the miners heartily favoring the
bill which they have fathered for years
and the operators steadily opposing IL on
the ground of its uselessness and creation
of additional burden of expense to the oper-
alton OF coal mine.
1t is understood that the sentiment of
the mine owners against the bill is not so
strong as at first announced. That. they
are not worrying about il is certain, as
several sources of information have shown
that the Legislature is not likely to adopt
the measure. Several members of both
houses of the General Assembly, II is said
have told the mine owners that there is
little likelihood of the bill passing and have
advised them to be assured of this and
steer away from any rocks of discord that
may be feared in the passage to a COM
promise on account of the bill.
WANT TO STAND TOGETHER
1t is known that the Indiana operators
and miners want to stand together. Their
relations now are congenial and an opera
tor said last night that for many reasons
he wished they would continue so.
Illinois is now said to be the obstruction
list faction. Illinois with its 7-cent differ
entail between pick and machine mined
coal insists that either the miners release
the mine owners from this little-liked stipu-
whole field of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and
western Pennsylvania to adopt it. The
run-of-mine basis of measurement exists
now in Illinois. but it is understood that
even this will be sacrificed if the miners
will concede to the request for a release
from the 7-cent differential. The miners
from Illinois promise that they will stand
by their pledges, and will not only refuse
TO release Illinois from the agreement, but
Will force 1t on the central competitive
field before the conference adopts a scale,
or there will be no scale adopted.
Public sentiment is being argued now by
both sides. The coal situation and the an
thracite strike arbitration commission are
being used as weapons of offense and de-
Tense by both sides. This fact is entering
largely into the controversy, and the least
radical of the delegates from the miners
and the conservative operators are urging
the conference to get together
An important committee from the miners
or Indiana and the owners of mines I'm
the field was held last night secretly, and
few of the other operators and representa-
tives from other States knew of il. This
committee. 1T is said. was charged with a
solution of the perplexing question of the
'shot-fring' bill, and its report to be made
this morning is likely TO remove the local
issues of Indiana from the harmony of the
conference.
A quiet effort was being made last night
to bring the Illinois men to better under
standing, and mine owners from other
states were doing much missionary work
among their associates from Illinois With
William ID. Ryan, John Mitchell and other
men representing the Illinois miners little
backing down from the position originally
taken is expected.
Talk of the probable outcome of all the
politics of both parties to the conference
indicates the general advance as previously
outlined In the Journal. 1t is more than
likely that an advance will be granted
but just what IL will be will probably be
decided soon as the vearious details of
disagreement can be disposed of.