New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-27
ULTIMATUM BY MINERS.
MORE PAY OR 4 STRIKE.
Mitchell and Lez0is ThrOJU Dozen
Gauntlet to Operators.

Indianapolis. March 26-The United Mine
Workers of America, through President John
Mitchell, Vice President 7. /. Lewis and Her
man c. Perry, president Of the Illinois miners,
this afternoon presented to the coal operators in
the executive session Of the joint scale com
mittee Of the central competitive district their
ultlmatum on the dispute over the wage scale
The demand Of the miners, as stated in the
ultimaturn is for restoration Of the wage scale
Of 1903 which is an increase of 5.55 per cent
Upon the receipt Of the ultimatum the operators
secured an adjournment Of the committee until
tomorrow morning. when it is expected def
mite ans=er TO the miners will be given.
It Is expected that this reply win be re-
fussl by the operators. and in that event the
committee will report a disagreement to the
Joint conference Of miners and operators. In
that case the question viii be debated before the
joint convention. Tonight, according to those
concerned, there is little prospect for an gree
ment
The morning session Of the committee to-day
was without result. After the noon adjournment
John Mitchell took the floor and said he had
been informed on reliable authority that there
were rumors I'm hotel corridors that the operators
believed that II they would stand firmly by their
position and prolong the sessions Of the joint
scale committee the miners would agree to sign
the present scale and recede from their demand
for an increase in wages. He said he wanted to
explain to the operators that there would be
under no circumstances an agreement at less
than the scale OF 1903 unless after a disagree
rnent the operators could enforce less terms.
and he did not believe they could. Vice-Presi-
dent Lewis said.
want to say more than President Mitchell
has said. We will be divided neither in this
scale conference, out Of this scale conference in
the convention, or anywhere else, so far as I
am concerned If we have got 70 such a point
in these deliberations where IL is a case Of walt
10 who is going to be able TO divide the forces
on either side then I belive we are considering
/ a very dangerous proposition
I realize fully the present situation I have
not treated the situation confronting us in any
frivolous manner. 1 know what a suspension
Of work means to our people; know what 1T Will
probably mean 10 millions OF other people who
are not directly interested in these questions 7
/ have hopes that we may be able TO find a solu
ton OF our present difficulties, but that solution
viii only come when both sides are ready to sign
a wage agreement carrying with it the prices
paid III 1903.
scale, and there is no reason for our considering
/ anything else. If we leave this conference and
suspension Of work takes place in the mining
industry or this country II viii not be because
Of any personal differences between the oper-
. atOrs and miners
OF course, after we have ceased negotiations
and arrayed our following on different sides Of
the question / am not prepared to say what
will develop. One thing is certain. II personal
]
proceedings, il would necessarily have to be
eliminated before We could get back face tc
face again unless one the other side is deter
mined to annihilate the other side 7 don't think
as intelligent men We have reached that point
in our deliberations yet. We are simply making
known our position that the rumors that have
been referred 70 Will have no effect whatever or
the minds Of the operators.
Herman c. Perry. president Of the Illinois
miners, said he had heard it rumored that diff
! ferent interests had been attempting to use in
huence to bring about strike. notably the small
/ operators and the coal dealers, who he had been
! informed, were supporting a lobby in the hope
OF influencing the operators TO force a iisagree-
/ ment
lie added that there would BE- no division OF
/ the Illinois miners, and mine would be al.
/ lowed TO run even with an advance in wages
unless all the union mines IN Illinois received the
! same advance. There was a short discussion
! conducted in a friendly vein and a motion Il
/ adjourn the committee until tomorrow morning
! was unanimously adopted.