The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-07
THE PROSPECTIVE COAL STRIKE.


Ohio. Indiana and Illinois. failure to
agree upon a wage scale beginning April
1 next, will work serious and wide-reach-
ing injury TO union labor and subject the
public to serious injustice. For years past
the joint meetings of tine employers and
miners, in which have been arranged the
scale of wages for this industry, have been
the inspiration and model for almost all
other organizations of capital and labor.
For several years past the wage scale so
fixed by this interstate movement has been
the basis upon which the wages Of substan-
TALLY all the other mining districts have
fixed theirs, excepting the unOrganized coal
fields OF West Virginia and eastern Penn
sylvania. Even these fields are largely gov
erned by the prices made by this conven-
ton for the organized miners.
When the meeting assembled at the reg
ular date in January the miners were ask
ing an advance over the present scale paid,
and the operators insisting that there
should be reduction of Is per cent. Be
fore this meeting adjourned in January
they came to this position: The miners
were willing to accept the present scale,
the operators willing to return to the scale
of 1902. No further progress seeming pos
sible, an adjournment was taken with the
hope that time and reflection would enable
an agreement to be reached when the rep
resentatives were called together again.
The present meeting convened on Feb.
% After much discussion status was
reached substantially the same as at the
previous meeting, namely, the miners
agreed to- accept the present price,
the operators demanding the price of
1902 The difference between them was
10 cents ton on the basal item of screened
lump coal. For several days this position
was occupied. neither party being willing
TO recede. The operators then, to avoid a
strike, made a compromise offer which,
simply expressed, was to divide the differ
ence; that is to say, make the scale
on screened lump coal cents lower than
the present wage, and 5 cents higher than
that of 1902, and, in addition, to make this
contract for two years.
1t was believed by the operators and by
very many of the more conservative miners
that this offer, made in a conciliatory
spirit. would be accepted by the
miners. and that an agreement would be
reached and signed on Saturday. This
proposition was supported by Mr..
Mitchell in what his friends agree
was perhaps the master effort of his life.
1t was supported also by Vice President
Lewis, by Secretary Wilson and by many
of the ablest leaders among the miners.
Nevertheless when the vote was taken,
the miners rejected this conciliatory COM
| promise offer of the operators Conse-
quently when the joint conference was
| called Saturday evening at 4 o'clock the
| effort failed and the conference adjourned
| sine die.
The position of the operators was based
upon the broad view that prices were
too high; that the inevitable ebb OF
of wisdom to meet this situation with in
telligent, conservative treatment, demand
ing a moderate decrease.
| The operators were not moved to this
conclusion by any immediate selfishness OF
desire for gain. as all that was conceded by
| the miners would be given the public on
the price of coal. They believed that there
| was but one interest-that common alike to
operators and miners, and that this con.
sentative treatment and moderate reduc-
ton, agreed upon cordially, would sound a
note far-reaching, guaranteeing undis
turbed prosperity and going beyond any,
thing and everything done up to this time
to show the possibility of harmony be-
tween capital and labor receding scale
as we'll as upon an advancing tide.
When two parties meet for the purpos,
of reaching a mutual agreement and aftel
a thorough discussion of controversial
issues, come TO a fixed and definite dis
agreement and of the parties in
conciliatory spirit, for the purpose of break
ing the deadlock offers to divide the diff
ference, 1T would seem there remains To-
the other only one of two things to do: &C
cept the offer. or by refusing it, acknowl
edge that they are not sincere in thei
declaration of purpose of reaching a fai
agreement
There Is nope, IL appears, that SIrik
may be avoided. If the committee shoul
decide to leave the question to a referen
dunn vote. the local unions. or a majorit
OF them, might see the matter in the sam
light in which 1t appears to the leaders an
wisest heads of the organization. Me
from outside the district have had han
in bringing matters to their present statu:
With a referendum vote only those who ar
actually concerned will have a vote. 1t
for them to consider the immense losses
I strike will bring to both labor and capita
the disturbance of public confidence. an
the universal suffering that would folIo'
a strike. The rights of the public shoul
: control the action of both parties.
AN OBJECT LESSON.
I The people of Indiana are to-day pre-
sented with a spectacle which should prov