The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-29
ANOTHER BIG STRIKE IS
PRICE OF WAR BETWEEN
MINERS AND OPERATORS
Meeting To-Day Faces Variant
Issues on Acceptance of Clash
or OF Arbitration
INTEREST IS DISPLAYED
More Delegates Among Union
Members Arrive than on Eve
of Preceding Sessions.
ROBBINS HERE TO-DAY
Leader of the Employers VIII Ad-
vocate a Continuation of the
Present Scale.
ROBBINS HERE TO-DAY

What is considered the most important
meeting that has ever been held in the
history of the coal industry Of the country
will begin in Tomlinson Hall at o'clock
this morning, when coal miners and opera
tors Of the competitive field of Illinois,
Indiana, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania
will renew their annual joint wage confer
ence, which ended In a deadlock in this
city early in the month.
The meeting this week will be final and
will decide whether strike will be called
in the competitive States at the expiration
of the present contract or whether the
good relations Of the miners and operators
will remain intact by the signing of wage
scale to go into effect for year. begin
ming April l. 1904.
Throughout yesterday miners from all
parts of the middle West and the East
poured into the city. That the United Mine
Workers realize the vital Importance of the
conference is manifested in the fact that
about 900 more miners. not only from the
competitive States, but from outlying dis
tricts. than attended the former meeting.
have been called TO the city for the session
this week. The anthracite region Of Penn
sylvania will be more largely represented
than before. while the outlying States of
Michigan. Iowa. Kentucky and West Vir-
ginia sending delegates to participate
n in the fight.
About 500 miners had reached the city
by last night. The credited number of
delegates representing the competitive dis
trict is $50. but 1t was said last night that
Pt least 500 miners will be here when the
conference begins this morning.
ILLINOIS OPERATORS ARRIVE.
The operators were not so prompt in
reaching the city as the miners. The first
delegation did not arrive until yesterday
Afternoon. However through the evening.
the coal magnates kept arriving at the
Claypcol. their headquarters. Operators
from Illinois were the first in the city.
Practically all Of them were at the Clay
pool yesterday afternoon
The vanguard of Indiana men. led by j.
E. Kolsen. arrived about o'clock. Most
of the Ohio and Pennsylvania operators
VIII come In this morning the early
trains. II was said last night that the
operators will also be more largely repre-
ssented than at the former conference
Frank L. Robbins. leader OF the operators.
will reach indianapolis this morning from
,Pittsburg.
The conference will be called at 10 o'clock
this morning by Chairman J. T.. Kolsen.
OF the Indiana operators. The proceedings
will be carried on as before with the pos
sible exception of the night being waged in
the open conference rather than in the
scale committee. That this course will be
followed Is most probable, as tina was one
or the objects In having the entire conven-
ton recalled to the city and the different
delegates given an opportunity to speak
plainly. The fight is expected TO be excit-
ing ana warmly contested. Ii is conserva-
lively estimated that an issue will not be
reached until the middle of the week.
On the outcome Of the conference this
no fNrff -
cial interests Of the country are at stake.
Should the miners and operators be un-
able 10 reach an agreement as to a wage
scale for the year the result will be a
strike of coal miners I'm the competitive
fields and in districts of OUTLYING States
throwing Idle in consequence 10000 men.
1t wc1ld mean a crippling of the coal in
dustry. and. II long drawn out, would mean
Gripping Of other large industries de-
pendent upon coal. The ultimate effect
would be felt in the markets OF the world.
STRIKE IS LAST RESORT
While the present status of the situation
Is serious. the call for a strike will be held
back as the very last resort. To avoid a
strike. however. one side or the other or
perhaps both. will have to recede from
their present positions. The stand of the
miners demands the reaffrmation of the
present wage scale. while the stand of the
operators is for the scale of 1900. reaffirmed
in fp1 and 1902.
u
the outcome of the conference can be fore
told only in speculatiOns, and even these
are rarely uttered.
NO knows what the result will be -
IS the invariable reply of every miner and
every operator. While there are some on
both sides who are In favor OF compromis-
ing concessions IL is believed they will be
made only after strenuous opposition with
In the ranks. From conversations with
miners and operators who reached the city
yesterday IL would seem that neither side
has wayered in its demands
DELEGATES of the miners say that they do
accept anything less than the reaffrmation
OF the IS0S scale
Vice President Lewis said last night thai
It was an utter impossibiity to tell what
turn the course or the fight will take dur
ing the conferences. No man knows the
miners will be willing TO accept a reduction
In which case the operators will have 10
low. You may be sure. however that every
effort Will be made 10 avoid a strike
MEETING IS IMPORTANT.
I'm my opinion this meeting is the most
important meeting that has ever been held
IN the world. Every one does not realizs
what effect strike in the very heart of the
coal markets will have ON the industries
OF the world
Among the operators from Illinois this
time IS the father OF the Illinois coal in
dustry. Col: a. L. Sweet president of the
Chicago, Wilmington * Vermilion Goa
Company. Colonel Sweet did not atfenf
the conference earlier in the month
Il could not keep away this time" be
said last night. TOO much Is af stale
But you can't get anything out of me- he
flashed. with merry twinkle. "because
j don't know what is going to happen Fac.
ing a strike Is no pleasant thing
Colonel Sweet has been in the coal IN.
dustry for thirty-six years. He was chair
man Of the first joint conference of miner
and operators ever held in this country
which was at Pittsburg I'm ISSs n
was then the interstate movement No.
given birth The movement continued ~,
several years and then died out 10 ha re-
vived seven years ago. since which time 4,
has remained intact and the miners snG
operators have worked on amicab bic terms
H. l.. Chapman, one OF the leaders %,
the Ohio operators. reached India nanoIis
last night. Mr.. Chapman said I'm reDIv r.
the question a. 10 the present attitude ot
the operators: Il don't know how the In
diana and Illinois people feel by this tiyne
but the Ohio and Pennsylvania oDerafors
have not changed in their feeling that =
reduction will have 20 come"
j. T.. kosen. an Indiana operator de.
clared that II the Indiana men had shifted
in their positions he WAS not aware OF A.
IL is evident the conference will begin
with feeling the same as when IL ended iu
q deadlock on Feb l.