The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-15
WILL FIX DATE FOR
JOINT SCALE MEETING
Committee of Operators and
Miners Will Hold Session in
This City To-Day.
INTEREST IN OUTCOME
Many Think Operators Have
Played Their Game and Will
Now Sign Old Scale.

Interest throughout the country is center
ing in the coming meeting Of the joint scale
committee representing the operators and
miners Of the competitive field of Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio and western Pennsylvania.
As the action of the miners scale commit
tee is already outlined, the operators are
being watched more closely in an effort 10
determine the outcome OF the conference.
Should the two sides fail TO agree on a
scale this time a strike may be expected
when the present contract expires or
April 1.
The committee appointed by the joint con-
ference the first of the month TO decide
upon a date on which the joint scale COM
mittee shall again convene, will meet to-
day at the Claypool Hotel. as previously
arranged. The committee is composed Of
one miner and one operator from each of
the competitive States. Frank l.. Robbins.
of P~ittsburg. is chairman, and w. B. Will
son, Of indianapolis. is secretary of the
committee. The meeting will be held this
afternoon. All the business TO be done is
to fix a date for the thirty-hve members of
the scale committee TO assemble again in
this city and attempt to adjust their diff
ferences. 1t is expected that about March
49, 00eC eROh WNACA NAC
will be called together.
OPERATORS Nus GIVE IN.
For the reason that the members of the
miners scale committee have been instruct
ed to accept nothing but the present scale,
the outcome OF the meeting of the scale COM
mitee can only be amicable by the opera
tors giving in. Should they refuse to accede
it will be necessary to issue a call for an
other joint conference and all the delegates,
both miners and operators will return to the
city and thresh out the issue. In case of
such a turn, serious results are feared, for
it is reasoned that if the operators will not
grant the present scale at the coming meet
ing, they do not intend to make such con-
cessions.
Although members of the United Mine
Workers are very quiet as to the outcome
of the extra conference, many of them be-
Iieve that the present scale will again be
signed by the operators. 1t is stated that
the delay in the settlement of the question
was a game of the operators TO get rid oil
the extra coal market. 1t will further be
noticed that the delay has materially af-
fected the price of coal and that it took ar
upward jump Immediately at the close oil
the unsuccessful conference. AS soon as
this price has prevailed for a while, saic
one of the mine officials. the operators will
be willing to grant the present scale
Whether the miners will make any new
overtures in case the extra conference ends
in another deadlock is not known. but the
general sentiment is that they have made
their last concession.
A strike in the competitive field is looked
forward m with much fear 40 IN UOnl(
mean one of the worst Industrial fights IL
the history of coal mining. Not only will
IL throw out Of work 10000 miners of tn;
competitive fields, but IL would cause about
$1,000 miners in neighboring States to b'
idle. 1t is thought that if a strike is called
another conference of the United Mine
Workers will be held in order to outline the
fight.