The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-03-23
SERIOUS AND BITTER
FIGHT DEVELOPED

indianapolis, Ind, March 19.-The
fight between the coal operators this
afternoon became very serious and bit
absolutely fail TO get together to meet
the miners.
The fight is on the matter of policy,
and the report Of the committee on
rules and order of business. Robbins
stands opposed TO the unit rule and
may threaten to bolt the convention
and operate his mines if II is adopt
| ed.
Another fight is on the proposition
! of whether this conference shall be
| regarded as a reconvened session of
the adjourned conference If it is so
| considered the "stand-pat" instructions
| to the scale committee will be regard
ed as still in force, and Robbins wlll
have to get enough support TO repeal
| those instructions.
DOLAN MAY CAUSE SPLIT.
1t was reported that Patrick Dolan
| will try to cause a split in the miners
| by urging them to stand for 1914 per
cent increase in wages-the original
| demand
Mitchell is for modified demands.
The Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois.
'stand-pat" operators demand the re-
| peal of the Ryan resolution.
The session adjourned to meet to
morrow morning without having voted
on any important proposition It be
came evident that the operators are
seeking delay.
When the bituminous coal operators
of Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Western
| Pennsylvania gathered in their con-
ference today after three weeks OF
fighting at long range, F. L. Robbins,
president of the Pittsburg Coal Com
pany and leader of the operators
found the cards seemingly stacked
against the continuance of his leader
ship and also against the policy Of
restoring the 1903 wage scale, and thus
reaching peace with the miners.
! ROBBINS GIVES UP CHAIR.
Robbins executed what she Russians
would term q mastery retreat" At
ter convening the conference he, in a
neat speech, declined to occupy the
chair. He stated that he had been sc
misquOted that neither his position oI
that of the companies that he repre-
sent was understood He asserted
that he represented large interests anC
felt that in justice to themselves he
should be free of leadership that ne
might represent their interests.
He also declared that whatever
steps he hadtaken toward a peaceful
solution of the impending crisis ht
had taken oe his own initiative, ant
that tn eoperators, were not in an!
way bound by what he had done. II,
denied emphaticaily that he had en-
tered into any agreement with JOhI
Mitchell or any one else.
His resignation was accepted and Z
.. vote of thanks was rendered for hi
services in the past.
> OHIO MAN INDORSED
F. S. Peabody, one of the biggest Goa
operators in Illinois, brought out th'
slate candidate against Robbins
H. Winder, of Ohio, who had been in
dorsed by the Ohio, Indiana and Hi
rois operators. He declared tina
Winders services in the past stood al
an assurance that he would make al
impartial chairman. He was elected
t without opposition and in taking th'
chair, declared that he would preside
over the meetings with firmness ant
impartiality to all interests.
e Robbins, shorn at last of the oflicia
, title of leader. took a seat in the reaI
OF the convention hall. In the worl
or organizing the conference and 9th
er preliminary matters he immediate
E ly came forward as the leader on tn
= floor. The indications are that he vii
continue to be the power that ne ha!
always been, and that ne will eithe
work out his plans or bring on tn,
greatest fight in the bituminous field
Sthat this country has ever known.
A STORY DENIED.
1t is stated that in a clash will
+ F. S. Peabody, last night, he said h
would operate his mines in western
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois. H
I made a fat denal of the story today
: but it is known that he is here for
settlement, whether that settlemen
Y has been demanded, as printed in tn
n papers, by the United States Stee
a corporation, or whether ii is prompte,
by the business interests of the Pitts
e burg Coal Company and its subsidiar,
: concerns.
| A
$ The Indiana, Illinois and Ohio oper
}, ators seem to be standing firm agains
e an increase in wages. They have no
: had opportunity TO crystalline thei
: district "stand-pat" expressions int