The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-03
MINERS AND OPERATORS
CONTINUE IN DEADLOCK,
WITH NO RIFT IN CLOUDS
Signs Point Ominously to a Gil
gantic Strike Affecting the
Coal Industry.
BOTH SIDES STAND SOLID
Propositions Voted Down as Fast
as They Are Advanced for
Consideration.
.SUB-SCALE COMMITTEE.
That Body Will Again Wrestle
with the Situation-Against
a Compromise.
GOTH SIDES STAND SOLID
COMMITTEE

Unable to make any advance towards ad-
justing the wage-scale differences now
holding the operators and miners Of the
four competitive States apart and pointing
ominously TO a gigantic strike in the min
ing industry the joint scale committee ad-
journed at o'clock yesterday afternoon,
referring the counter demands of the two
sides to the subscale committee. The sit
uation is at a standstil, the meeting of the
committee yesterday being but a repetition
of Tuesdays convention on smaller scale.
The subscale committee is composed of
two miners and two operators from each of
the four competitive States, one-half the
number of the scale committee. 1t will
meet this morning at 10 o'clock at the
Claypool and little short of a miracle. it
seems, can bring the two factions together
on an acceptable wage scale to go into ef-
feet for one year beginning April 1.
There will be no meeting of the conven-
tion to-day as had been announced. The
call for reconvention will be given by the
subscale committee. probably this after
noon tomorrow morning.
REACHING A CLIMAX.
The critical issue is now narrowing down
to climax and unless the subscale COM
ing the miners and operators together
the last resort has been exhausted.
The failure of the scale committee to
throw even a ray of light on the critical
situation blghts the hopes of both miners
and operators. 1t is believed that in re-
ferring the question to the subscale COM
mittee the elimination of the crisis is but
being prolonged. Such action, however,
was the only thing left for the scale COM
mi
both the miners and the operators refused
to make any overtures except those pre-
sented at the convention Tuesday.
W. d. Ryan, chairman of the scale COM
mittee, said last night, after the adjourn
ment of the meeting: From the way
things look tonight l can see no way out
of the deadlock but a strike"
Will the miners accept a compromise,
Mr.. Ryan?"
The miners will accept no compromise.
Besides. the operators have not said any
thing about compromise.
BOTH SIDES FIRM.
Although scheduled to convene at 8
o'clock yesterday morning, the scale COM
mittee did not meet until o'clock yester-
day afternoon. 1t was in session three
hours, during which the miners again pre-
sented their demands embodied in the reso-
lutions read by President Mitchell at the
convention and the operators held forth
a Is per cent. reduction Against the min
ers' propositions the operators voted solidly
and the miners did the same on the oper-
ators demands. Arguments, somewhat
heated. for and against the counter de,
mands were continued by Mr.. Robbins and
Mr.. Mitchell and others among the miners
and operators, but they failed to bring
about recession from either side. Mr..
Mitchell, Vice President Lewis and Secre-
tary Wilson, of the United Mine Workers,
who are admitted to the meetings of the
scale committee. had no votes on the issues
and consequently the deadlock continued.
The subscale committee consists of six
teen members, eight miners and eight oper-
atofs with the three national officers of
the United Mine Workers allowed a voice,
but no vote. While little advantage can be
seen by either miners or operators In refer
ring the issue to the subscale committee it
was stated last night that the members OF
this committee can go more into an analysis
of the situation by unfolding statistics that
would not be presented in the convention
or to the scale committee. The meetings
of the subscale committee are held with
great secrecy behind closed doors and no
records OF the proceedings are kept.
SUBSCALE COMMITTEE.
The following operators and miners con-
stitute the subscale committee:
Frank L. Robbins and G. w. Schlueder-
rick Dolan and William Dodds of the Penn
sylvania miners.
j. H. Winder and II. L: Chapman; of the
Ohio operators; w. H. Haskins and ID. ii.
w S. Boyle and James McClelland. OF
the Indiana operators; George Hargrove
and William Wilson, of the Indiana miners.
II. N. Taylor and w. +; Lukins, of the
and w ID. Ryan, of the Illinois miners.
President John Mitchell was seen at the
Claypool last night. and in reply TO the
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