The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-06-22
WHY MIR. PICK WAS HERE.
Rumored Closing Down of All Coal
Mines in Illinois.

It seems highly probable that the
visit OF George r. Peck to Topeka yes
terday to see c. J. Devlin was on ac-
count of the impending shutdown of all
the Illinois coal mines on June so. Mr.
Devlin is one of the leading Illinois
operators.
The Illinois opera tors, at a meeting
held Tuesday at Springfield, passed a
resolution in the form of an ultimatum
to the 10000 union miners of the state,
informing them that unless the miners
at once negotiated a new wage scale
to equaIize the expense to which the
operators are put by a new law passed
by the last legislature, the mines will
all close down on June 80.
The miners union has practically re-
fused to consider any propositions of
this nature, and the indications are that
the coal mining business in Illinois will
be paralyzed.
It is said that this was the reason
Mr.. Peck and Mr.. ROssington had their
conference here Wednesday with the
officials of Mr. Devlin's coal companies.
The following is the resolution adopt
ed by the Illinois opera tors:
Whereas, The coal miners of Illinois
have secured the enactment of a law
providing for the employment of shot
firers and examiners in the production
of coal which law prevents further
compliance by them with the terms of
the contract existing between them and
the Illinois coal operators association
which contract otherwise would be eff
fectiVe until April ]. 1906, and which
therefore abrOgates said contract; and
Whereas, Said law adds to the cost of
mining coal. throwing the different
sections of the state out of their COM
petitive relationship, and the entire
state out of competitive relationship
with the other states in the interstate
movement, contrary to the provisions of
the contract; and,
Whereas, When said law was pending
as bill in the legislature, it was op-
posed by the operators in the belief
that it would increase rather than di-
miniSh both fatal and nonfatal acct
dents in the mines of Illinois, and
further, because it would cause the alb
rogatiOn of the existing contracts; in
asmuch as it would require the coal
mine operators to segregate the work of
the miner and hire special men to do a
part of the work in the production of
the coal that the miner is paid for in
the contract mining price, and mas
much as it would also divide the re-
sponsibility and compel the operators to
assume certain liabilities heretofore as
sumed by the miner and upon which the
present agreements are based; and
therefore, be it
DEMAND NEW SCALE.
Resolved, That the Illinois coal oper-
ators' association, in meeting assembled
this day, June 20, 1905, declares that all
it's members must abide by the letter
and spirit of said law in absolute good
faith; and be it further
Resolved, That since said contract
through such action of the miners
ceases to exist June 60 1905. the mining
of coal throughout the state must
/ thereupon cease until a new contract is
negotiated; and be it therefore further
! Resolved. That the coal operators of
/ the state are prepared to negotiate with
! the miners a new competitive scale
| based upon the provisions of said law.