Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-29
DISAGREEMENT LOOKS LIKE
MOST PROBABLE END OF
JOINT CONVENTION
SPIRITED DISCUSSION

Continue Their Arguments Neither
Side Wants to Take Responsibility
OF Breaking the Negotiations.
Indianapolis, Ind. March 2s-The
Joint conference of the bituminous
coal operators and miners Of the CEN
tral competitive district met today in
What was generally understood to be
the final effort to reach an agreement
on the wage scale. Since the adjourn
ment of yesterday no move had been
made by either side and the deadlock
this forenoon was apparently as firm
y as ever
Chairman Traer announced that the
question was on the substitute motion
offered by ]. H. Winder, to reafirm
the present wage scale with conditions
as they existed when til 1t scale was
adopted, the scale to include the cost
Rof mining, loading, shooting and tim
bering.
Says Increase Is Impossible.
A. j. Moorehead Of Illinois, was the
hrst speaker for the operators, he
said the operators would te pleased
to pay the miners an increase in
wages, but that it is business i'm
possibility at this time. J. H. Walker,
a miners delegate from Illinois, dis
cussed the conditions in that state,
arguing that they warrant an advance
in wages.
Charges Against Moorehead.
Herman G. Perry, president of the
Sics nJ
dent +. L. Lewis replied to some
statements made BY Hoorehead,
{. claiming that the latter was one OF
those operators who signed the scale
and then paid the miners seven cents
less.
No Indication OF Agreement.
The discussions and arguments
which continued yesterday afternoon
and today by the representatives Of
the miners and operators showed no
change whatever in the situation and
established the fact that so far as in
dications can determine, the opposing
sides are no nearer a wage agreement
than they were in January, when the
first conference was held. The present
wage scale will expire Saturday and
unless an agreement is reached be-
IUTS It's CAplldClOn .AdO,VVV AluSI5 Ill
the four. states and many more in
will be called from the mines.
President Mitchell of the miners
opened the discussion in the joint con-
ference after there had been silence
of ten minutes, during which each
side was waiting for the other to make
the first move. He said:
.Mr. Chairman: 1t was my expecta-
ltion when we convened here this after
q noon that some proposition looking to
an adjustment of our differences would
be- submitted by the operators 1t is
evident that they have not agreed
among themselves to submit for the
consideration Of this convention any
proposition looking to settlement or
adjustment of our relations. Every.
one here who has heard the report by
the secretary of the joint scale com.
mittee will know that the miners, par.
ties to that joint scale conference have
gone out Of their way, have even as.
sumed authority not vested in them by
the miners convention to meet the
grave and full responsibilities placed
upon them not only as miners, but as
countrymen and citizens by the re
quest and the suggestions of the Pres
ident Of our country. And it will be
come evident from the votes reported
here by at least four of the states
who must, and who rightfully shall as
sumo the responsibility for disagree
ment, If no settlement is reached.
criticises the Operators.
zone state, one large producing
state, has come in here and voted for
restoration of the wage scale of 1908
That state has not only voted it's en-.
tire production, but it has announced
in addition thereto the intention to
vote it's mines in Ohio and Illinois in
favor of stn increase in wages. 1t
seems to me, gentlemen, that instead
of sitting quietly the gentlemen from
the operators side ought to say some.
thing in defense of their position. And
accepting all the responsibilities that
may come to me personally without
consultation with the gentlemen who
employ me, want to offer for the con.
sideration, and I hope the favorable
consideration Of this convention, mo-
tioh that as basis of settlement
I there he restoration of the scale. the
mining scale and the day wage scale
and the dead work scale of 1903"
j. H. Winder, chairman of the opera
tors, offered as a substitute motion
to adopt the present scale with all
conditions existing at the time of Its
adoption with the mining rate at Dan
vile, Ill, for base, and to include all
cost Of shooting, loading, tiubering
and inspection of shots. This was
taken up this morning