The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-04
Committee of Operators and
Miners Appointed Which Will
Meet Here on Feb. Is.
BOTH SIDES ARE FIRM
If Neither RecedeS from Its Pres
ent Position a Strike Will
Surely Ensue.
MINERS MEET IN SECRET
Vote to Stand by the Scale of
I9o3-Operators' Views Ex-
pressed by +. L. Robbins.

Unable to adjust wage scale differences.
the seventh annual joint conference Of coal
operators and miners of Illinois. Indiana.
Ohio and western Pennsylvania ended in
deadlock yesterday afternoon and ad-
iourned temporarily with no agreement
reached as to a scale and working contract
for the year beginning April l. 1904. At ?
o'clock the scale committee reported TO the
Joint convention that neither side being
willing to recede from its demands. 1t could
arrive at no compromise on a motion made
by F. l.. Robbins. of the Pennsylvania op-
orators, the convention adjourned TO re-
convene at the call of a committee consist
ing Of one miner and one operator from
each of the competitive States.
COMMITTEE NAMED.
The committee which will call the con-
vention together again. when another at
tempt will be made to agree upon a wage
scale. was appointed yesterday just before
adjournment 1t includes the following: II.
y. Taylor. of the Illinois operators: T. J.
Reynolds. of the Illinois miners; ]. c. Kol-
sen, of the Indiana operators: George Har-
grove, OF the Indiana miners; Y. w. Winder.
of the Ohio operators; w. II. Haskins. OF
the Ohio miners; f. l.. Robbins OF the
Pennsylvania operators. and Patrick Doan.
of the Pennsylvania miners.
The committee will meet in indianapolis
on Feb. 10, at which time il will fix date
upon which the joint scale committee will
reconvene and seek to decide upon scale. IL
the joint scale committee is unable 20 reach
an agreement, call will be issued for an
other meeting of the joint convention in
this city. The date of the meeting of the
scale committee will probably be about the
last of the month or the first OF March. Ii
will not be later than April i. when the
present contract between the miners and
operators expires
For the past two days all signs pointed to
deadlock between the operators and
miners on the wage scale issue. and even
the most conservative foresaw that no
agreement was likely to be reached. The
status of the disagreement is previously
outlined i'm the Journal. The miners stand
firm by their demands for the reaffirmation
of this years scale, and the operators re-
main resolute for the scale OF 1902 which
was also in effect during the years OF 1900
and 1901, and which embodies a reduction
OF about IL per cent. At the meeting OF
the scale committee yesterday morning the
subscale committee reported that IL had
been unable TO reach an agreement, and
after the issue had been threshed over for
three hours by the Joint committee a call
was issued for the reconvening Of the con-
ference. and the disagreement was reported.
MINERS MEET SECRETLY.
Immediately following the adjournment Of
the convention the 557 delegates of the
United Mine Workers went into executive
session in Tomlinsen Hall. The trend of the
session was a vindication OF the stand
taken by the miners in the fight. After
vigorous speeches by President Mitchell,
Vice President Lewis and other delegates
against giving way TO the operators a mo-
tion made that the miners accept no
scale less than the scale now in force. Some
/ objection was raised TO the word less" and
| in its place was substituted Identical
scale of 1903 Debate then arose to
| whether the miners should forego their de-
mands for run-of-mine basis and the fat
| differential of cents BY a close vote, the
| convention decided It would let these de-
mands rest for another year and stand for
/ the scale of 1903.
The stand of the miners was made un-
| compromising when, in executive session
yesterday, they instructed their members
of the joint scale commtte to accept moth
| ing but the present scale at the future
| meeting of the committee. For this reason.
4 the only amicable outcome OF the meeting
will be the signing OF the wage scale now
/ i'm force. If the mine operators refuse 10 re-
/ treat. the deadlock Will continue and the
557 miners and S53 operators will again be
| called TO this city in joint conference From
! the position of the miners. IL is not hard
TO foresee that unless the operators grant
! the'scale OF 1903, strike Will result In the
competitive field. The general attitude OF
the miners was to fight the question out
while the conference was In session. but IL
| is understood the delay was granted TO sat
| isfy the operators. The miners have also
/ decided to fight suspension OF business
| on the part of the operators which has
/ been talked OF. At the close of the execu-
tive session. President Mitchell did not care
! to talk further than to say that he did not
/ have any grave fears for the future.
The advantage OF the adjournment 10
/ rather indefinite. The fact that NC settle
ment could be reached at the present con-
/ ference, when both sidss fully repre-
/ sented and prepared for the fray, presage8
/ a doubt as TO whether an agreement can
/ be reached later. The strongest support
| for an adjournment came from the opera
| tors Several miners said last night that
! they did not know what would be gained
! by the suspension OF the conference. The
/ operators stated that temporary adjourn
ment was the only thing that could save the
/ disruption OF the Interstate movement.
\ Every effort having failed. a regular ad-
] journment would mean that the movement
was broken During the interim. both sides
viii have time to reconsider the situation
/ and may come upon some method BY which
/ a Joint agreement can be reached.
ROBBINS EXPLAINS.
Frank l.. Robbins, leader OF the operators,
was asked last night what was the object
OF adjourning now 10 fight out the issue
later. He replied: I'VE all want TO keep the
interstate movement intact. and this tenn
porary adjournment is the only thing that
may save it under the present unfavorabls
conditions We could not come 10 an agree
ment and IL was better that we adjourn
for the time being than declare the inter-
/ state movement void. Before the conference
is again called together the miners viii
have time 10 look into our statements and
see that reduction is necessary and that IL
will have 10 come.
''Wfl the delay be of any advantage to
the operators in affecting the price OF
I cOai?" was asked.
Not in the least" Mr.. Robbins replied.
THAT Is ridiculous. Such thing does not
| enter into the action.
! In view OF the fact that the miners adopt
| ed measures to stand by their demand for
/ the reaffirmaton OF the present scale and
/ the operators stated firmly that they must
/ have their reduction. the outlook for an ad-
/ iustment OF the differences Il not bright.
I The miners are hoping that the operators
/ will give way and the operators are trusting
I that the miners will do the same. so that
I the situation remains at standstill.
BOTH SIDES RETICENT.
/ Neither operators nor miners cared TO
talk OF the results following a failure 10
come 10 an agreement II would mean that
after April the mines OF the states OF Illi-
nois. Indiana. Ohio and western Pennsylva-
MIA would be closed and something like f50-
/ 600 miners would be idle. IL would also
mean trouble outside the competitive field
I as many OF the Southern and Eastern
/ States adjust their scale with the competl-
! tive scale as a basis Both miners and
| operators say that every effort should be
| made TO avert such catastrophe. as