The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-30
MINERS AND OPERATORS
SUBMIT THEIR DEMANDS
AND COMMITTEE BEGINS
Operators Ask for a Reduction of
Is Per Cent. and Miners De-
mand Consideration.
MITCHELL AND ROBBINS
Leaders Set Forth in Argument
the Position of Their Re-
spective Sides.
MINE OWNERS EMPHATIC
Claim Made that They Cannot
Maintain Present PriceS-Hot
Contest Expected.
MINE OWNERS EMPHATIC


Ing by both sides. the miners and operators
OF the competitive field comprising Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio and western Pennsylvania,
Joined in battle shortly after the opening
OF yesterdays session by submitting their
Joint wage scale demands for the ensuing
year. AS had been expected, the operators
asked for reduction in the wages of the
miners. amounting 10 10 per cent. Although
the miners request no increase in the reg
ular scale, they demand strictly run-of-
mine basis, fiat differential of Z cents and
a uniform scale for outside LABOR of the
mines
The demands of both sides having been
submitted to the convention, the remainder
of the day was spent i'm debating the is
sues by President Mitchell and Vice Pres
ident Lewis. OF the miners. and Frank L.
Robbins, w. S. Boyle and III. L. Chapman,
of the operators A motion was made by
President Mitchell that the demands of the
miners be adopted which was Immediately
followed by Mr.. Robbins. who moved to
substitute the demands of the operators
After the two demands had been debated
pro and con throughout the day, a vote
was taken on the motion and substitute
just before adjournment and both were
lost. Mr.. Mitchell then moved that the de-
mands be referred to the joint scale COM
mittee, which was done. The scale COM
mittee is called TO meet this morning at
O'Clock and take up the demands of the
miners and operators
DID 1T QUICKLY.
When IL was proposed 10 submit the de-
mands OF both sides a few minutes after
the convention got down to business yes
terday morning. Frank L. Robbins. leader
the ODeratOrS n sheet of paper
from the press bench and in less than
minute framed the demands of the oper-
etOrs. The demands Of the miners occu-
pied a page of type written specifications.
BY mutual agreement the demands were
turned over to the secretary, w E. Will
son. who read them follows:
Proposed scale of the operators: RE
solved. That the conditions of the times
cent. from the present scale for the scale
year beginning April l. 1904. and ending
Proposed scale of the miners: ''First-we
demand an absolute run-of-mine basis
for the entire competitive field.
"Second-That there be fat differential
of cents per ton between pick and machine
''Third-That the pick price per ton in
the Pittsburg district, Hooking valley, Ohio,
Indiana and the Great Creek vein of the
Danville district of Illinois shall remain the
equivalent of the scale of April l, 1903, to
iFourth-Amend last years contract by
striking out in inside wage scale the words
Company men in long wall mines OF third
vein district. northern Illinois, 1886 and
insert the words 'Brushers in long wall
mines, $2.56
"Fifth-Ail internal differences shall be re-
ferred to the districts affected for adjust
ment.
"Sixth-That there shall be a uniform
scale for outside day labor in competitive
fields.
OPERATORS IN EARNEST.
While at previous joint conventions of the
miners and operators of the competitive
field. the operators have invariably sub
mitted demands for a reduction, and such a
proposition is consequently expected each
year by the miners. it is apparent that at
this conference the operators are in earnest
about the reduction. which they claim is
absolutely necessary because of the signs
OF depressing times. On their side the
miners stood as firm as men can stand
against "A reduction. Under the leadership
OF John Mitchell the contest will be fought
TO the end and the present conference
promises TO be the warmest one I'm the his
tory of the interstate movement The argu-
ments OF the operators yesterday failed to
move the miners I'm the least and at the
end of the days session Mr.. Mitchell arose
and said that unless they could show bet
ter reasons for a reduction than had been
stated the miners could not think OF ac-
ceding. However, in the scale committee,
the reasons and arguments for a decrease
will be gone into even 10 the figures on coal.
1t may be that here the miners can be more
certainly convinced that the time for a
reduction Is at hand. but IL is doubtful.
The meetings of the scale committee will
be guarded with the utmost care. An at
tempt was made just before adjournment
last night to allow the commissioners of
States outside the competitive field admis-
sion To the meetings of the committee with
out voice vote. Mr.. Robbins objected
most strenuously, terming such action "the
most absurd thing he ever heard Of" De-
- he Urh
John p Reese. commissioner from the Iowa
operators. charged Mr.. Robbins with hav-
ing something up his sleeve" Mr. Reese is
at the conference TO get Iowa admitted into
the interstate movement, and made a dOgged
fight for the passage of the measure. How
ever. when il pat TO a vote IL lost
the negative votes coming from the Oper-
ators of three States Mr.. Mitchell and the
miners favored the measure and spoke in its
behalf. The operators objected TO making
statements concerning their business which
their competitors outside the field might
make use Of
OPENED BY ROBBINS.
The arguments on the demands of both
sides was opened by Frank l.. Robbins
who declared that the times demanded a re-
duction in the wages of the miners He
pointed TO the reduction in other industries
especially the iron and steel business II,
also pointed TO reductions in the mining
industry in other parts OF the country, l. e.
the Meyersdale region OF Pennsylvania anC
the West Virginia districts. where the com
panies had already made a reduction ol
posted notices TO that effect These com
panies." he said. "are coming into the com
petitive field and taking our contracts from
Us because they can put coal on the mar
ket at price with which We cannot com
pete Mr.. Robbins also showed that il
the history of the interstate movement
there has been a steady increase in tn,
wages OF the miners amounting 10 66 pel
cent in the last seven years. He declared
that producers OF PocahOntas and othel
Goals were planning TO make reductions
which necessary IL the operators ex
Dected 10 work their mines at an ADVANTAGE
Mr.. Mitchell reDled 10 Mr. Robbins de
claring that n reduction in the mining in
dusIry means "a reduction all around
reduction ia wages he said. will benefi
no One--nOt even the operators. / don't be
lieve the operators conduct their industrie.
I'm the interests OF the railroads. If a re
ductiOn should be agreed upon the railroad.
would insist upon you paying IL all 20 them
MINERS IN EARNEST.
''You laugh at our demands OF a run-of
mine basis We are in earnest when WI
CONTINUED ON PAGE G COL. c.