The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-02
STRIKE OR PEACE IN COAL
FIELDS DEPENDS UPON
WILLOF THREE DOZEN MEN
Thirty-Five Members in Confer
ence Body to Decide Whether or
Not Present Wages Continue.
CLASH SEEMS IMMINENT
Days Deliberations at Tomlinson
Hall End in Giving Power
to Scale Committee.
SESSIONS BEGIN TO-DAY
No Recession from Stand Is Ap-
parent from Either Miners
or Operators.
CLASH SEEMS IMMINENT
SESSIONS BEGIN TO-DAY

Another days work throws no light on the
end of the deadlock existing between the
coal operators and miners of Illinois, In
diana, Ohio and western Pennsylvania in
special conference in Tomlinson Hall. A
great strike. involving the Industrial inter-
ests of the country, seems imminent from
present indications.
By the action Of the convention late yes
terday evening. after day of discussion
in which nothing positive was accomplished
and the negative stand or both operators
and miners was clearly outlined. the re-
sponsibility of bringing the two together
in concord on the question of wage scale
and working contract for the coming mining
year rests to-day upon the shoulders of the
scale committeeman.
The committee is comprised Of four oper-
ators and four miners from each of the
competitive States, and the three national
officers Of the United Mine Workers OF
America.
If the members of the committee main
tain the uncompromising spirit that char
acterized the convention yesterday hope for
the prevention of a strike on April In
the competitive field is well night gone.
SESSIONS BEGIN TO-DAY.
The committee will meet this morning at
o'clock at the Claypool Hotel to begin
it's stupendous task of framing an accept
able joint wage scale. Its report will be
made to the convention tomorrow morning
at 9 O'Clock, when the crisis is expected to
culminate.
AS a result of yesterdays deliberations
hopes for an amicable settlement were more
discouraging last night than at any time
since the conference began. All eyes are
now turned toward the scale committee.
will be reached IN the committee meetings
to-day, but the operators are very skepti-
cal.
Frank l.. Robbins, leader of the opera
tors. said last night: 1T looks like a
strike to me, but no one can tell the re-
suit
LAS far as am concerned speaking for
the company l represent L say for one that
L. shall never sign a scale except upon the
conditions of reduction
President John Mitchell refused to ex-
press himself on the situation outside the
convention, but during the sessions he
stated his position most absolutely. He
said:
We are not willing to- take reduction.
We don't believe a reduction Is WARRANTED.
We don't believe reduction will Go you any
good and we don't believe it will do us any
good"
IF / believed the conditions of the
coal trade warranted a reduction in wages
1 would stand up here and advocate it.
/ wouldn't care IL i were the only miner
present who spoke for a reduction, l would
do il III l believed il was warranted and if
l believed the future of the interstate
movement depended upon 1t. But l do not
believe il.
DRAMATIC SCENES WITNESSED.
"Gentlemen, believe that every demand
we have enumeraed is fair, whether we
get it or not. Supposing we never get it,
it does not change my mind as to the fair
ness of establishing uniform condition of
mining fhrOuQhOut the country
Throughout the day yesterday, the con-
vention listened intently and with more or
less demonstration. to the heated and dra-
matte arguments of the leaders on both
sides. The hall was packed. All seats,
both on the floor and in the balconies We're
filled. While the speakers had the floor an
undercurrent of excitement manifested
itself. breaking out frequently into vigorous
applause laughter. Probably never be-
fore in the history of conventions similar
10 the present one, have the deliberations
of men been followed so closely and dis
sected so minutely. The Miners based their
arguments. that a reduction is not war
ranted at this time, upon the report of the
which was read the convention by Presi
dent Mitchell. The report showed that the
company increased its business and receipts
during the last year sc per cent
BOTH SIDES IN ARGUMENT.
Although Mr. Robbins, president of the
company, was QUICK 10 reply that the oO
per cent. increase was by virtue of their
extensive assets and did not represent the
mining end of the business; and the other
operators objected to the argument that the
Pittsburg Coal Company did not represent
the mining industry in the four competitive
states, the miners continued to uphold the
report OF the company as the basis of most
Of their arguments.
The operators, on their side, argued from
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