The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-01
Wage Cut Imperative to Eastern
Interests, but Not to Indiana
Owners.
THEY ASSENT TO SCALE
Ohio and Pennsylvania Men
Driven to Action by Rivals
Prosperity.
CHAFE UNDER PRICE WAR
Pittsburg Coal Company Can Pay
Dividends at a Loss, While
Protestants Suffer.

Conscious that before them lies week Of
rough sailing. the block and bituminous
coal operators and miners OF the cOmpeti-
tive States OF Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and
western Pennsylvania. now assembled In
joint conference here, made the most or
their day and a half of rest and have
planned TO battle for the real contest, which
begins to-day While 10 the casual observer
il would seem that the situation has re-
mained as brought out at the opening skir-
mish Friday. reports from inside the ranks
point to a clash and temporary disruption
of the interstate movement.
Among the operators much dissatisfaction
has been expressed with the status OF af-
fairs at this time, and there seems to be
a lack of unity on the part of the coal
magnates as TO the course to purs.e. From
conversations and reports the Illinois and
Indiana operators are drawing apart from
the operators OF Ohio and Pennsylvania on
the question of joint scale. and the proba-
BILE outcome may be separate dealings WITH
the miners who stand in solid phalaIx.
COMPETITION CAUSES CLASH.
The cause Of the widening line between
the Eastern and Western competitive op-
orators is the complicated situation OF the
coal industry in the competitive field. The
Illinois and Indiana operators. il is under
stood are willing and desrous OF coming
TO compromise on the joint wage scale
issue.
On the other hand. the Ohio and Pennsyl-
| vania mine owners declare that they will
not compromise, but will stand firm for
their demands of a Is per cent reduction.
1t is said that this stand is taken because
Of the over supply of coal on the markets
of the Ohio and Pennsylvania companies,
which receive the brunt of the competition
from the Meyersdale and West Virginia
fields. These companies have their
northern docks Atone over 100000 IONS OF
coal, which must be sold. Consequently
/ they are better able to fight the reduction OF
| Is per cent.
RUPTURE IS THREATENED.
Unless the reduction is secured. it is ru-
mored that these companies intend TO close
their mines for several months, at lAast.
BY SO doing. they would raise the price OF
! coal materially. perhaps dollar on the
ton. and with their supply of 100000 tons
on the market. would reap profit OF ST.,
| 100000 1t is a well known fact that coal in
the Hooking Valley has fallen to low
| price. and that the companies are not max
| ing much profit out of their business. IL Is
also known that the companies can afford
| to suspend business for several months
without any serious effects. AS stated by
! President Mitchell In open convention. the
Pittsburg Coal Company. which is the con-
/ trolling company of the two States, has
notified its stockholders that even II IL did
not operate at a profit for the next five
years, IL could pay dividends of per cent.
SCANT HOPE FOR SETTLEMENT.
This being the status of affairs prospects
| for an amieable adjustment of the scale are
dark. Last night there was a rumor about
! the Claypool Hotel that the Indiana and
! Illinois operators talking Of returning TO
their homes and signing up their contracts
with Indiana and Hhuois miners exclusive
! ly. They do not believe that the miners
will accept a reduction of Is per cent under
any consideration. and fear that il they
support the stand OF the Ohio and Pennsy!-
| vania men they will have a strike on hands.
| From all conversation, the Illinois and In
! diana mine owners are anxious 10 adjust
the joint scale. for they not in a posi-
ton 10 profit by a temporary suspension OF
! business.
Should the outcome be as all signs point.
| it Will mean that the interstate movement.
| which has been intact for more than six
| years will be broken. for this year AT least.
COMMITTEE MEETS TO-DAY.
The scale committee composed of thirty
| five miners and operators. will hold its sec
ond meeting this morning at o'clock In the
assembly hall OF the Claypool Hotel, and IL
is then expected that the tangle viii be
| fought out As yet the committee has not
turned its attention TO the scale. the first
meeting being devoted entirely TO organiza-
| ton.
However, when the members assemble
! to-day il is for the purpose OF considering
the Joint scale. The propositions from
| which the committee work the two de-
| mands, that of the operators for 10 per
| cent. reduction and that OF the miners for
a runtof-mlne basis. fiat diferential 0f Z
! cents and uniform wage scale for outside
/ labor, The operators. who spent Sunday
| at th{r homes began returning last night
] Thos3 who did not get in then will arrive
| early this morning
| MOVEMENT IN BALANCE.
Theie is no denying either among the min
| ers oIt the operators that the present con-
feren9e is a crucial test Of the interstate
movement All play and bluff has been
abandaned by both sides and the fact
stands out clear that there is 10 be a hard
| struggle before an agreement is reached.
| Everye argument at their command win
be brsught forward by both operators and
minerf OF the scale committee in their
| efforts 10 sway the agreement their way.
1 In thI closed chamber where the scale COM
( mittef meets the operators submit figures
OF htkcoal trade. which they would not dare
/ 10 disulge in open convention. IL Is not
I know, when the convention will be called
/ together again. That lies IN the power OF
/ the ssale committee. which usually calls
| the convention from time 10 time as 10
| progresses in its work.