The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-30
MINERS And OPERATORS
SUBMIT THEIR DEMANDS
AND COMMITTEE BEGINS
ocoNc1IrDED FROM FIRST PACED

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE0
ask for a modification in machine mining
and that the coal mined shall be paid 1or
on a straight run-of-mine basis: we expect
to demand a run-of-mine basis until we
get it, for we believe il TO be the only non
est way of weighing coal. Let me say Tor
the benefit of the public, who may De mis-
led that we do not get 80 cents per ton OF
pick coal i'm the Hooking Valley, as the
contract calls tor. II is merely paper
scale. 1t amounts TO 81 cents per ton. what
is true of Hooking Valley is true OF the
Pennsylvania regions, where there is dlt-
ferential of 20 cents. If we accept reouc-
ton in wages ii doesn't mean that more
coal will be burned. 1t means that the re-
ducing power will be lessened. Even II you
could offer us a reduction in the cost or
living we could not see our way clear 10
accept it. The time will never come again
when the miner will have to ask for char
ity. We are better now than we have ever
been in our lives, but we Will not return
to conditions under which we formerly mao
to exist"
Mr.. Boyle. Of the operators. then came
forth and argued in behalf of the reduc-
ton. He said that he believed TINS conVen-
ton would prove the crucial test OF the IN
terstate movement, for the times made IL
one of the most important conferences ever
held in the world. He declared that the
scale now being paid the miners is nigh
er than ever before in the competitive dls-
trict and relatively higher than any scale
paid in any industry in the world in the
past year. Your wages he said, have
been four-fold greater than have been our
returns The reason for this was because of
the most phenomenal period of commercial
activity in the worlds history. But the
price of labor went too far. We have
reached the crest of the wave and are now
slowly but surely descending on the other
side This convention has a condition TO
face. If Mr.. Mitchell can show me that n
reduction will work a hardship on the
miners. my voice will be sllenced" Mr..
BogIe nointed out that competition on the
part of outlying States is making it impos-
sible for the competitive operators TO car
cost of production is cut down they will
be forced to close their mines and throw
one-half the miners out of work.
LEWIS IN THE ARENA.
At the afternoon session the argument
was taken up again by Vice President
Lewis, of the miners, who said that he
would not admit that there had been
shrinkage in values during the past year.
He declared that the operators could not
expect to readjust the wages of the miners
unless there was readjustment all along
the line.
In a somewhat long and forcible speech
II. l. Chapman. Of Ohio, gave further ar
gument for a reduction. The conditions Of
labor" he said, depend for their success
on the conditions of other industries. No
industry is such a barometer as the iron
industry and you know that no manufac-
turer of iron can produce the manufactured
material at the present cost OF labor and
get a new dollar for an old one. The time
has come" he declared, when the opera
tors are met face to face by the fact that
there must be lower prices.
After an argument against reduction by
William Ii. Wilson, Mr.. Robbins and Mr..
Mitchell engaged In a passage at arms. Mr..
Robbins made a proposition in support OF
the Justice of reduction TO the effect that
the operators would accept 20 per cent. OF
the profits of last years income and would
turn the other 20 per cent. or all excess over
TO the miners. Mr.. Mitchell arose and said
they could not, of course, think OF any
proposition like that, and could not. from
argument so far advanced, see any just
cause for a reduction.
do you think" said Mr.. Robbins, that
the public will be satisfied with the present
scale?'