The Washington times., 1906-03-26
Operators Signing In
creased Scale Can Work
Their Mines.
DECISION WAS SURPRISE
F. L. Robbins, Who Cham
pioned Their Cause, Will
Be First Benefited.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, March 2s i
Sensational developments today indi-
cate that the miners have sprung a
coup on the operators, and that the
great general strike will be averted
1t Is declared that the miners will
permit f. L. Robbins. of Pittsburg. who
championed their cause, to run his
mines. Other operators who are willing
to sign the scale will be given the same
standing, and thus the strike will be
aimed only at the opponents OF an in
creased wage scale
This has put an entirely new aspect
on the situation. and may lead TO d solu-
lion of the entire situation IL plans are
carried out today
Operators Willing to Sign.
A number OF Illinois operators are
willing 10 sign. In fact. the Illinois men
are so split up on the subject that daily
meetings are held TO keep the weak
kneed in line. Several operators In the
Hooking Valley are also willing to sign
the scale. Operators who produce over
100000 tons a year are said TO be
ready 10 sign. This is nearly half the
production OF the four competitive
States
The Illinois miners won their strike in
1897 by permitting every operator who
would sign the scale 10 begin work
Another change in the program was
reported by the Ohio operators. 1t was
said that the joint convention would not
break up before Wednesday. The Joint
scale committee will continue sessions
until Tuesday afternoon.
Hobbins will sign for mines i'm the
n nd oil In.
Illinois Collieries Company is in ais
property.
In Ohio District.
Nearly all the operators in the Spring
field district are also ready to sign the
miners slate. In the northern part OF
This State few viii permit thei- miners
10 strike. This strike. II called, accord
ing 10 the same authority. will affect
cnly those operators who refuse 10 nav
the advance demanded
Il am still making an aggressive
fight" said Robbins when informed OF
me rumors The miners have not Yet
informed me tnat the Ryan resolution
VIII he rescinded. The resolution for
Lids settlement as long as there is a
controversy In any one district
With that out OF the way, we could
work our mines The miners cannot At
mines where the scale is offered What
would the public think?"
To Embarrass Roosevelt.
From sources close to the inside comes
the information that the question OF
wages is not the real cause of the de-
lay. but that the trust forces are in
reality seeking to embarrass President
Roosevelt The people who give the big
orders have determined that at all costs
theodore Roosevelt must be put out OF
the running as great political factor.
The interest shown by the President In
the coal situation has given a chance
If nothing more Is possible. II IS in
'endeo 10 give the President fortnight
or so OF worry.
At the same source IL is stated thar
the operators have since the matter
of wages was first brought mn ber,
determined that there shall be no
strike. In face of the railroad leeisIa-
ton oeIore Congress the wisdom OF
announcing that President RooseveIt
had become interested in preventing a
coal strike is now questioned Rob
bins, who was then head Of the Opera-
tors. Is said to have been the uncon-
scious tool OF the railroads in sug-
gesting at New York that President
John Mitchell called up the White
House by long distance telephone and
the difficulties. II was the hone Of the
railroad people TO distract public at
tention from the bills before Congress
and thereby render their passage more
uncertain
Railroads Are Cautious.
This information comes from
sources very close to the railroad in
terests i'm the present conference On
the same authority il can be stated
there will be no strike in the bitu-
rminous fields. The railroads realize
that. owing to recent legislation in
various States and other anti-railroad
measures proposed. they are in no po-
sition to take responsibility for a
great strike. The issue has been clear
ly put up 10 them by Robbins in the
joint scale committee.
Endurance Test Again.
The joint scale conference committee
adjourned at HIS until , p. m
IL looks as though John Mitchell and
his United Mine Workers have been
caught vice-like in the fight between