The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-27
NINE OPERATORS WILL
REACH THE CITY TO-DAY
Frank l.. Robbins. of Pittsburg, Is
Looked Upon as Their
Leader.
ak OF THE SCALE
Matters That Will Be Fought Out
at the Coming Joint
Conference.

The advance guard of the large delegation
OF coal mine operators from Indiana, Ohio
Illinois and western Pennsylvania is eX-
pected TO reach Indianapolis early to-day
in good time for the annual joint wage con-
ference between the operators and miners,
which begins tomorrow and continues un-
I'll wages are adjusted. About two hundred
operators usually attend the conference
while at least 500 miners remain to see
the battle fought out
Among the first operators TO arrive will
be those from western Pennsylvania The
leading operator i'm the joint conference is
Frank L. Robbins, of Pittsburg, president
Of the Pittsburg Coal Company. Mr.. Rob-
bins has under his direction over 1900
miners and is considered one of the most
just operators in the country. Among other
leading operators from the Pennsylvania
and Ohio fields are w. w. Keefer, w. O.
Blackburn, G. w. Schluegerberger, j. II.
Winder III. l.. Chapman, +. Nj. Osborn, I.
L. Young, II. S. Willard, ID. G. Thomas and
j. NJ Roam. Those from Indiana will be
lead by Walter S. Bogel. ]. Smith Talley, j.
S. McClelland, w. w. FISHER. The interests
of the Illinois operators will be championed
by II. NJ. Taylor. ]. s. Moorehead, A. j.
Smith and A. j. Garaughty
The point at issue in the joint con-
ference is the scale of wages and working
conditions which shall be agreed upon by
the miners and operators for the ensuing
year. While 1T is reported that the opera
tors will fight for reduction in wages this
year, il is known that the miners viii ask
for slight advance. For this reason many
believe that practically the same scale will
be again adopted especially as far as
figures are concerned.
WORKING CONDITIONS.
The scale that the miners have agreed
upon and which they will submit to the
operators aims more towards the better
ment of working conditions. AS before
stated in the Journal. an increase of about
10 cents will be asked on pick work and
a decrease on the differential equal to the
cents now in vogue in Illinois. The new
scale will also demand the abolition of
screen methods in Indiana, Illinois and
Ohio and the establishment of strictly run
of mine basis. a demand will be made
for a slight increase in the wages of out
side and inside men, making the scale for
these workmen uniform at d figure of APP
proXimatey $3.50.
During the past few days the miners of
the four States represented i'm the con-
ference have been holding meetings and
selecting their representatives for the dif-
ferent committees. The Ohio delega ton has
been ready to announce its members of
committees ever since the delegates have
been I'm the city. The matter was arranged
at the Ohio convention held two weeks
ago. The members of the scale commit
tee and the alternateS have been elected
but will not be given out until the date
of the convention. According to the usual
custom, each State selects four committee
men for the scale committee and four al
ternates. The chairman of the conference
is chosen after both delegates and opera
tors assemble. The conference will be
held in the Assembly Hall of the Claypool
Hotel, which will be he headquarters Of