The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-26
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
MINERS TALK OF SCALE
Chairman Reynolds Says Nothing
VIII Be Given Out Until Mat
ter Is Settled.
INCREASE. OR \ STRIKE
Miner that Attended Conference
Says that Is the Way the Mat
ter Stands.
OR 4 STRIKE

In executive session at the German House
from to 5 O'Clock yesterday afternoon. the
miners convention discussed the report Of
the scale committee. which came to it
after discussion extending over four days.
The report was still under consideration
when the convention adjourned.
Chairman Reynolds, Of the scale COM
mittee. refused TO discuss the executive
session of the convention when seen last
evening. but stated that a report of the
scale submitted by his committee, pu! .ished
in an evening paper. was incorrect Moth
ing in regard to this report will be given
out officially until the scale is submitted to
the operators.
The report Of the scale recommended by
the committee yesterday afternoon that
was denied by Chairman Reynolds, of the
committee, was that fiat dfferential rate
of cents for all competitive districts will
be demanded, as will an absolute run-of-
the-mine basis: that certain districts will
make no demands for an increase in the
wage rate; that a rate of s2.56 day will
be demanded for all inside workers In
mines other than the experienced and prac-
teal miners. and that a universal rate Will
be asked for all outside workers.
INCREASE OR STRIKE.
A miner who attended the executive ses-
sion yesterday afternoon informed re-
porter for the Journal that while he could
not give any detailed information as to
the report of the scale committee. he could
say that the miners would ask the oper-
ators for a very substantial increase in
wages. Asked whether it would be an in
crease of 20 per cent. he replied that il
would not be that much.
Il know this" said he. THAT every man
a.. IL III. II
iron-cled instructions to vote for an IN
crease in wages. It's something we have 10
have. If the operators refuse IL there will
be national strike We know well enough
that the operators can pay more money
than they are paying. In my town miner
took out five and one-half tons of coal in
one day and the same day bought one ton
of coal. He received 50 for digging the
five tons and half and he paid So for one
ton. So he. figured out that the operator
made just four and one-half tons of coal
by his labor that day You know miners
are not such fools as to stand for that"
A meeting of the Iowa delegation, held
in the German House auditorium immedi-
ately after the adjournment of the execu-
tive session yesterday afternoon. was
called to discuss certain sections of the
report submitted by the scale committee
that affected the Iowa district
ON FALSE REPORTS.
The returning of false reports by secre-
taries OF locals. concerning the number of
members in good standing was made the
subject of animated discussion by the
convention In Tomlnson Hall yesterday
morning and furnished the text for
sermon by President Mitchell on honesty
as applied to officers of the miners organ
ization.
1.-THE presidency of the United Mine
Workers." declared Mr.. Mitchell lis not
a large enough consideration to induce me
to make a false report or TO tell a le."
resolution was adopted on the subject
stating that any officer who should be found
guilty of having made false report should
be deposed and never again be allowed to
hold office
The report of the committee on con-
stitution was discussed at length, and
number of changes in the organizations
constitution were made al the suggestion
OF this committee. None OF these changes,
however. was of an important character,
so that the reception of the constitution
committees report this year did not differ
materially from that of every year Changes
are frequent, made necessary by the growth
of the organization and changed conditions
that are TO be reckoned with.
With Illinois and Ohio leading the fight
against the proposed change, 1t was decided
by strong vote not TO adopt the stamp
system for the collection of per capita taxes
and dues of various kinds.
An amendment was adopted providing for
changing the initiation fee of the organiza-
ton TO $40 for practical miners Each dis
trict may fix for itself what the initiation
| fee for others shall be. Leave of absence
/ will be granted to members who wish TO at
/ tend school, and when they return TO work
/ they will be permitted TO re-enter the union
without the payment of an entrance fee. A
! radical change was made in the method of
/ issuing transfer cards. which will hereafter
/ make il necessary for q miner to work for
! three months in one district before transfer
| by card to another district will be permitted
SHADES OF MEANING.
The exact shade of difference in meaning
| between character" and reputation was
I the cause of a prolonged discussion at the
morning session. when the convention was
| considering an amendment to the consttu-
/ ton providing for the expulsion of MEM
/ Der who shall falsely and maliciously dam
/ age the reputation" of another member
/ The. word character" appeared in the
| original amendment. but this was changed
+ to reputation" after the subject had been
\ threShed over by a number of delegates.
The afternoon session, the greater part
/ of which was given over TO a consider
/ alton of the report of the scale committee
/ was held i'm the German House auditorium
/ in order TO give time for the preparation
/ of Tomlnson Hall for the ball that was
/ given there last evening
An effort to commit the convention to the
/ old plan of eecting national officers at
| the convention instead of by direct vote
/ of the locals. voted down.
a resolution submitted by a committee