The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06

bringing the entire convention Of the United
Mine Workers back 10 the city and giving
the delegates from states outside the COM
pettive field vote on an issue that should
have been handled by the miners OF the
States concerned.
With few exceptions. the delegates from
outlying districts voted against accepting
the compromise and thus figured materially
in the final outcome.
Another fact to which the defeat OF the
compromise was attributed was that a
large number of miner delegates came TO
the conference bearing instructions from
their locals TO accept no reduction. and they
were forced into a negative vote.
The feeling among the operators last night
that the interstate movement had been
dissolved for good and former anicable
relation could be restored only by the or
ganization of another such movement IN the
same manner as the one just ended was
formed. Their attitude is that of men who
have done all in their power that il rea SON.
able to prevent war and to preserve peace
They declare that they will stand together
upon their rejected overture and Will meet
whatever trouble the future may bring
forth. They have shifted the responsibility
OF a strike upon the shoulders OF the
miners. Their position was given last night
in an interview with Frank l.. Robbins,
who said:
I'VE conceded half our ground and gave
the miners a proposition based upon the
conditions of the times not only in the
mining industry, but in other trades. We
consider il a magnanimous offer and
were led 10 il by the desire 10 preserve
peace in the industrial world and the in
tegrity of the interstate movement.
I'VE would not have made such an offer
on a One-year contract, but felt that the
assurance of peace for two years warrant
ed concession embodying a two-year con-
tract. In making the concession. the opera
tors took upon themselves the responsible
ity of criticism from their constituents
and already We have received many tele-
grams and letters from operators not at
tending the conference condemning our
action of giving in to the miners. The op-
orators of the four States VIII stand to-
gether: we have no other platform but
that OF the compromise and that is our po-
sition."
PRESIDENT MITCHELL TALKS.
President John Mitchell visibly showed
the effects of the strain under which he
was suffering at the close OF the conference
last night. Il am too tired TO talk much" 9"
he said. "The adjournment of the conven-
tion means practically the disruption of our
interstate movement and points strongly
towards a strike in the competitive districts
April l. OF course something may come up
in the meantime by which we can get to-
gether and heal the breach. The miners
Will hold another session OF their conven-
ton tomorrow morning (Monday morning.
The executive board will meet tonight 10
frame series of resolutions defining the at
titude of the miners the question. Tile
resolutions will be presented to the conven-
tion for ratification on Monday morning"
w. S. Boyle. OF the Indiana operators.
said last night that III IL comes TO a strike
Indiana will stand resolutely with the op-
orators and the employers will close their
mines on the first of April. While Indiana
mines are more susceptible to an inflow OF
water than are the mines of the other
States. a difficulty might arise I'm letting
the mines lie idle Questioned on this. Mr..
Boyle said that every mine is supplied with
sufficient number OF pumps to allow a small
force of men TO keep them dry
There was a general sentiment among the
operators that the miners I'm rejecting the
compromise Offer ed. were not quite aware
of the momentous step which they were
taking 1t is believed that they expected
the operators to give in at the last moment
and did not realize that the operators were
making their last offer.
When the vote adjourning the convention
sine die was concluded. a noticeable silence
fell upon the miners. Hardly a man moved
in his seat The operators were filing out
of the hall before the miners began 70 arise
They were requested to sit down by Presi-
dent Mitchell who called the session OF the
convention and asked If there was any more
business 10 come before the body. Nothing
was done and the session adjourned 10 meet
Monday morning.
After the elimination of the crisis last
evening, groups OF miners could be seen on
almost every downtown corner talking over
the situation. Many OF them regret the
clash of the two parties of the interstate
movement, which has been their pride.
There were many discussions among the DEL
egates, and it is believed by many that
change of mind Monday may turn the tide
ferred to referendum vote.
OPERATORS DISSATISFIED.
AS soon as the decision TO adjourn sine die
was reached, the operators left the han
rapidly and returned to their headquarters
AT the Claypool. where the majority pre-
pared to leave the city at once A gOodiy
number remained in the lobby discussing the
abrupt end of the conference. which IL was
thought at the beginning Of the day would
end in an agreement. A number OF the OPP
orators remained over Sunday. but most OF
them left the city last night
At o'clock meeting Of the joint con-
ference was called. at which the PROPOSE
ton OF the operators was read. II en-
braces the following terms: THAT there
shall be a reduction OF cents a ton in
the cost OF mining lA-inch mesh
sylvania thin vein. in the Hooking valley.
the basing district OF Ohio. and in the BIZ
luminous and block mines of Indiana. In
the bituminous districts of Indiana and
Illinois a reduction OF cents a ton on mine
run pick mining. a reduction OF cents a
ton on screen lump ccal in western Penn
sylvania thin vein and i'm the Hooking VAL
ley basing district or Ohio. ana a reduction
OF cents a ton on the mine-run machine
mining in Indiana and Illinois.
The terms OF the compromise would also
ers. timber men. water haulers, machine
haulers and bottom ca gers from S2-55 day
10 S2.42 a day and pipemen would also be
reduced from s2.52 10 1886 a day All other
outside day labor. which Is now receiving
81 &C. would be given s. . a day.
Day laborers receiving S22S day would
not be affected by the compromise as they
are not mentioned in its terms. IL Is esti-
mated that should this compromise be final
ly accepted by the miners II would result
in a cut in their aggregate wages OF about
$4,000 "A year. The important provision cf
the compromise is that the contract must
be signed up for two years.
GREAT INDUSTRIAL CONFLICT.
The condition which accompanied the
vote OF the Indiana operators on the COM
promise was that the price OF mine-run
and screen-lump coal be left 10 the district
conventions for settlement They main-
tained that it was a matter OF internal
difference and should be adjusted I'm the
district organiza tions.
Should the situation involve itself into a
strike OF the miners of the four competitive
States as many believe will be the ulti-
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