Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-02
BIG MINERS STRIKE
SEEMS INEVITABLE
The Joint Conference of the
Miners and Operators Adj
jou1~ed Today
MINERS FIRM FOR INCREASE
Operators Move to Continue Present
Conditions and Pennsylvania Miners
Vote for the Motion Which Is De-
cIared Lost - Mitchell Calls a
Meeting of That Organization.


ference of coal miners and operators
adjourned sine die at 11:40, after the
chair had declared carried motion by
f.. L. Robbins. a Pttsburg operator,
that the present wage scale be- con-
tinued. Patrick Dolan, president Of
the Pennsylvania miners voted the
motion. which carried it. President
Mitchell at once called a convention Of
that organization to meet this after
noon
When Dolan voted yes" for the
Pennsylvania miners. his vote was
challenged. Dolan arose and said: II
have the authority to cast vote for
the Pennsylvania miners, and until
that authority is taken away from me.
vote yes" There were loud cries
of mol" Throw him out!" Presi-
dent Mitchell said: THE convention OF
miners decided to refuse the PROPOSE
ton Just presenteda and the miners
voted no. Secretary Wilson refused
to announce the vote until it be de-
cided how vote was cast. The chair
decided Dolan had the right to an
nounce the vote of the Pennsylvania
and the motion was declared lost as it
required unanimous vote to carry any
of the principal propositions.
The conference adjourned amid some
confusion.
. Indianapolis, Feb. 2.-The coal OPP
orators and miners Of the central COM
petitive and southwest districts, met
in joint conference today to finally
settle the question as to agreements if
possible. F. L. Robbins, Of Pittsburg,
moved the present scale be affirmed
with the same prices and conditions
for the year, beginning April l.
Robbins reviewed the difference in
the conditions of the miners now and
when the interstate and joint confer
ence movement went into effect. You
he said. Without argument in the face
Of all business you yesterday met and
repudiated sair proposition. l want
to go on record as protesting against
such methods. Yesterday coal sold in
Chicago at dollar ton, carrying an
SO-cent freight rate, because the rail-
roads were demanding cars, and yet
you refuse to allow one district to sign
an agreement unless we propose to
deal with our miners evenhanded, with
same representation on each side. We
do not propose to have the miners Of
other states with conditions entirely
different from ours dictate as to the
settlement of our affairs in our dis
trict. Your proposition adopted yes
terday Is absurd. A little section in
Michigan could refuse a settlement
and tie up the whole country. You
have conference with the anthracite
operators coming. If I were an an
thracite operator / would refuse to
deal with you President Mitchell took
the floor and said:
"It is kind of Robbins to say we pre-
sented no arguments We refuse to
allow the operators to have the final
say as to whether we present argu-
ment or not. We have shown by the
operators own circulars that coal Is
selling at the mines from 80 to so cents
ton higher than seven months ago
We have shown by their circulars that
conditions of their own trade is NIGH
ty prosperous TNne country is in the
highest degree of prosperity. Yet we
are asked to continue lower wage
scale than we had two years ago. And
Robbins will remember two years ago
when we accepted lower wage scale
on account of an unfortunate situa-
ton existing at the time. he promised
reduction would be restored at the
next conference" Mitchell reiterated
his arguments for an increase in
wages, which he previously made in
Joint conference and in closing said:
'sWe have come to the parting of the
ways and it seems to me the only thing
left to do is to go home and there try
to overcome the seemingly insurmount-
able obstacles. We regret deeply the
necessity for such a step. but feel the
time has come when you can give us
an advance in wages without damag-
ing your property interests to any
considerable extent"
p. II. Phenna, an Indiana operator
said: 1T looks as though split is in
evitable and that the joint conference
movement has failed"
-,.e <IcNEzljEI sNrInENT