The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-05
BIG DEMAND FOR COAL
IN VIEW OF CONDITIONS
Railroads and Large Manufactur-
ers Will Grab All the Fuel
in Sight.
MINERS ARE HOPEFUL.
They Think a Settlement VIII Be
Reached When Joint Confer
ence Meets Again.
MINERS ARE HOPEFUL

But few operators and miners of the COM
petitive district Of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
and western Pennsylvania, who have been
in joint conference here for the past week,
remained in the city over yesterday. a
number Of operators stayed until last night,
but the majority of the miners had taken
outgoing trains by noon. Both operators
and miners left with the feeling that they
would soon return to fight out the wage
scale issue, upon which they could not
reach an agreement at this time.
Although the miners were for fighting the
question out while here, most of them left
feeling that when they meet the operators
again the latter will accept their demands
for the present scale. They base their hope
on the fact that, as they allege, the
present condition of the coal industry fully
warrants the reaffirmation of this years
scale. Unless something unlocked for hap
pens in the coal markets they believe that
their demands will be entirely reasonable.
DEMANDS FOR COAL.
The result of the disagreement between
the operators and the miners has already
had an effect on the coal markets by slim
ulating the demands for COAL Large man
ufacturing companies, railroads, etc., which
have watched closely the progress of the
conference, have begun to grab for coal in
anticipation of a suspension of business
and a consequent increase in the price of
coal. 1t is said the operators hurried home
In order to increase their supply OF coal in
case strike is to follow while, on the 9TH
er hand, the miners will put forth their
greatest efforts to make as much money
as possible before the present contract ex-
pires on April /.
People are now beginning to look forward
TO the time when the operators and miners
again meet in indianapolis, and are won
dering what the outcome will be. The meet
ing, which will decide whether there will
be a strike or a continuation of friendly
relations, will be held here about the first
OF March. If the difference is not adjusted
by the scale committee, and the delegates
are recalled, there is reason for grave
doubts, ii is said, as to an amicable out
come. A strike in the competitive district
would be the most serious event in the his
tory Of the coal industry, and operators
and miners realize the fact. For that rea-
son strike Will come only after all means
or settlement are exhausted.
Such a strike would not only affect the
miners of the competitive field, but would
involve in all about 100000 coal miners OF
the East and middle West. In the COM
petitive field there are 10000 miners en-
ployed, but the outlying districts depend
upon the competitive scale as means 10
adjust their wages. Although there are
several million tons of coal on the market
1t would last but short time In the event
of strike and a few weeks would find the
large manufacturers and corporations
baked in their efforts to secure sufficient
fuel.
HELPING STRIKERS.
The miners are making renewed efforts to
fight to a successful issue the strikes now
existing in the organization. w. r. Fair
ley. member of the executive board of the
United Mine Workers, left yesterday after
noon for Colorado to take charge of the
strike in the southern fields. Chris Evans,
one of the charter members of the organiza-
ton, as we'll as of the interstate movement,
is also in the field, and the two men will
seek to settle the trouble successfully. BY
the action Of the recent convention the or
ganiZation will soon have more money with
which 10 carry on strikes. The strike tax
of 10 cents a month per member in
creased TO rs cents a month. Attention is
also to be turned to the West Virginia
fields, where the coal companies are making
q cut in prices. The organization has made
rapid progress in organizing the State, but
there are still many companies which refuse
to recognize organized labor.