The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-03-08
HANNA S DEATH.
UPSET CALCULATIONS OF
THE MINERS.
POLITICS PLAY A PART
Threatened Strike May
be Averted.

rittsburg, Pa, March 6.--All hope
OF averting the threatened strike OF
the. coal miners of Pittsburg, ohio,
Indiana and Illinois need not be given
up. Francis l.. Robbins, Chairman
of the wage committee of the coal
operators, has said that the operators
are willing to meet with the coal MN
ers' committee again II the miners
will accept the last offer made. He
said that under no condition could the
operators give further concessions As
1t is, the operators of the competitive
states are not In accord with the last
proposition OF making two years
contract with a reduction of about
Q 1-2 per cent. The committee OF the
operators had power to act. Rather
than face the possibilities of a strike
the concession was made. In all well
regulated miners conferences there
must be a certain amount of time
wasted in dickering. Ever since there
have been wage conferences the min
ers have made exorbitant demands
and SO have the operators. Just as it
looks as II the scale is to be thrown
out the miners and operators get to-
gether. This will be the case during
the month OF March. The chances for
settlement are really brighter now
than when the operators and miners
adjourned. From those in attendance
at Indianapolis 1t was learned that a
settlement would have been reached
but for the iron-bound instructions
given the majority of the delegates
not to accept reduction.
Tomorrow the miners at their In
dianapolis conference will adjourn.
The miners will be sent back to their
locals with instructions from the
leaders to tell the army of miners
that unless delegates are sent to con-
ventions who are free and untram-
meled, that the coal miners may have
two or three months idleness before
them. N,
When the delegates 10 the miners
convention at Indianapolis district con-
ventions will be called it will be
4 urged that uninstructed delegates be
5.sent to these conventions. These del.
'egates will go back to the mining 10.
@ssls' and report thetresult of the dis.
trict conventions An effort will be
made at these district conventions to
s permit the wage committee to make
a settlement with the operators.
The death of Senator Hanna has up
set the calculations of the coal min
ers. Had he lived the miners intended
to appeal to him as chairman of the
Republican national committee to
coerce the coal operators into sign
ing wage scale without any reduc
tion in wages. There are none among
the Republican leaders familiar with
the coal mining situation as Senator
Hanna was. He had operated coal
mines many years and was familiar
with both sides OF the question. The
coal miners will now appeal to Pres
ident Roosevelt to use his influence
satisfactory to the mine workers
Hence politics will play large part
in the wage settlement This being 6
year for the election of president
the miners officials would be dis
graced in the eyes of their constit
uents If they did not use the time a:
propitlous for getting everything de
manded. The miners believe that {
strike will injure the administration
and might upset the election of Pres
ident Roosevelt. Hence the delay il
the settlement