Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-31
SOFT COAL STRIKE
SEEMS INEVITABLE
Scale Committee Reports Disagree
ment 10 JoiIt Convention.
OPPOSING SIDES FAR APART

Indianapolis March 2S-Ths Joint
scale committee of the bItuminous coal
operators OF Illinois Indiana. Ohio and
Western Pennsylvania reported dis
agreement TO the joint conference of
the central competitive district The
conference continued its meetings to-
day wednesday,.
The discussions and arguments pre-
scented established the fact that. so far
as indications can determine. the op-
posing sides are no nearer a wage
agreement than they were In January.
when the first conference was held.
The present wage scale win expire ON
Saturday. and unless an agreement is
reached before it's expiration. 225.0o0
miners In the four states viii De called
from the mines.
Mitchell Opens Debate.
President Mitchell. of the miners.
opened the discussion in the Joint con-
ference after there had been "A silence
Of 10 minutes. during which each side
was waiting for che other 90 make The
GTst move. He said.
"Nr. Chairman-lt was my expcc-
tation when we convened here that
u
ment OF our differences would be sub
nittod by the operators. IL Is evident
that they have not agreed among
Themselves 20 submit for the consider
alton OF this convention any PROPOSE
ton looking 20 an adjustment OF our
relations. Every one here who has
heard the report read BY the secretary
OF the Joint scale committee win know
that the miners, parties TO that Joint
scale conference. have gone out OF
their way. have even assumed Ruthori-
ties not vested IN them by the miners
convention. 20 meet the grave and fun
responsibilities placed on them not
only a. miners, but as Countrymen and
citizens. by the request and the suc
Gestions OF the president OF our coun-
try And 40 viii become evident from
the votes represented here by at least
four states. who must. and who right
fully shall assume the responsibility
for a disagreement n no settlement Is
reached.
zone state. one large producing
state. has come IN here and voted for
n restoration OF the wage scale OF
1908 That state has not only voted
its entire production. but 80 has an
Aounced in addition thereto the inten-
tion 10 vote its mines tn Ohio and in
Illinois in favor OF an Increase in
wages. II does seem 90 me. gentle
men that instead 81 sitting quietly
abe gentlemen from the operators
side ought 20 say something IN de-
Tense OF their position. And accepting
all the responsibility that may come 20
me personally without consultation
with the gentlemen who employ me. 1
want 20 offer for the consideration
OF this convention a motion that as a
basis Of settlement there be a restora.
tion OF the scale. the mining scale and
the day wage scale and the dead work
scale OF 1908"
Operators OFFER Substitute Scale.
J. H Winder, chairman OF the oper.
ators. offered as a substitute a motion
20 adopt the present scale, with all
conditions existing az the time OF It's
adoption. with the mining rate at Dan
Vile. H.. for base. and 20 include all
cost OF shooting. loading timbering
and inspection % shots. No vote was
taken on either proposition.
After a number OF speeches by
prominent opponents OF each side
Mr. Phil Penna OF the Indiana oper-
ators IN a speech suggested the set
clement OF the differences by arbitra-
don He outlined no definite plan
however. and his suggestion WAS not
further discussed.
Wellington O'Conn0r president Of
Abe Indiana miners. said he had In his
pocket letters from Indiana operators
wanting 20 pay the advance asked for
Turning 70 Mr.. O'Connor. Mr. Penna
said If you have letters from any
Indiana operators belonging 10 the as
ISOLATION offering TO pay an advance.
take the advance. ] hate a scab opera
Tor as much as hate a scab miner"
Mr.. Mitchell denied a report circu-
Iated in the hall before the joint con
ference was called 20 order 20 the ef-
feet ;hat the miners had asked Presi-
dent Roosevelt 10 use his efforts
towards securing peace.
Would Raise Price Of Hare Coal s1.2o.
New York. March 26.-The anthracite
coal operators. feeling that the public
should be fully and accurately informed
concerning all points now In dispute
with the miners. authorize the follow
fng statements:
Much inquiry has been made as 10
the precise calculation by which the
anthracite coal operators establish the
fact that in order TO grant the demands
made by the coal miners Il will be
necessary 20 raise the price charged the
consumer by $1.20 a ton. The operators
feel that the public should be fully in
formed upon this point, as IL will be
absolutely impossible TO sell coal for less
than this increase II the demands be
allowed.
May Work Despite Strike.
Wilkes-Barre. Pa. March 2S-Ths