The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-24
SOFT COAL INTERESTS AT WAR
CONFERENCE SPLIT OVER ROB-
BINS-MITCHELL SCHEME.

Tor H1II9UuIB SOAl UNIV AINuaAlO
and Illinois Producers Firm Against
Any ConcessiOns-Anthracit Truce.
INDIANAPOLIS, March 2s.-The sessions
NJ the Joint conference OF operators and
miners to-day were the most Sensational in
the history of that body. They were char
seterized by personal thrusts among the
operators, open oenance Of the Robbins
Mitchell combination, an impassioned APP
neal from Robbins to Mitchell and un-
disguised fear IN the part OF the latter that
the miners convention would refuse to
Endorse him and that open war would break
out in his organization.
Mitchell was pale as a ghost while the
rapid fire guns were in operation, while
yice-President Thomas Lewis, who opposes
the policy Of his chief, sat with a grim smile,
evidently enjoying the discomfort OF the
situation in which Mitchell was placed.
The Joint scale committee had been in
session only an hour when after an eE-
change Of bitter personalities between
Robbins and several operators, who accused
him of betraying every interest that had
been entrusted to him, Robbins turned to
the independent operators Of Pennsylvania
and asked If they would pay the advance
and keep their men at work II the Plttsourg
Coal Company paid the advance which the
Abortion of the scale OF 1908 would bring.
He was answered in the affirmative, the
epokes nan of the independents slying they
would be compelled to pay the advance 1t
the Pittsburg Coal Company did 80.
Robbins then turned to the Indiana,
Illinois and Ohio operators and declared
he would not be dictated to by them.
Robbins then faced Mitchell and in q
loud voice declared that the country would
not tolerate a general strike when ne had
offered for western Pennsylvania and the
mines he owns in Ohio and Illinois to pay
the advance required by the scale OF 1908.
He said that Mitchell would not dare refuse
10 let the miners work when the sale they
themselves had offered was accepted.
Mitchell was visibly annoyed by the ap-
peal, but made no reply. He doubts whether
the miners will indorss such a partial scale
concession and he knows that Levin and
others will Oppose it il it il presented to the
miners convention for ratification.
That he is committed TO stand by Rob
bins there seems no doubt, but leaders in
the convention do not believe a strike could
be carried on succe ssfully against the other
operatois'if a few men were at work IN
western Pennsylvania, Illinois and Ohio.
1t was said tonight that even the miners
employed by Robbins are not a unit upon
the proposition and that Nice-Presiden
Lewis will lead the opposition TO such a
partial settlement. as Robbins proposes,
When Robbins had defined his position
and asked for a separate contract with the
miners he employs the torrent Of abuse
began to flow from his fellow operators,
and for an hour every speaker denounced
him as the betrayer OF operators; one
speaker declared that II he we're held IN az
general contempt as was the president OF
the Pittsburg Coal Company he would go
off. Judas like. and hang himself.
Robbins tried TO defend his position, but
he was reminded that 1t was he who had
organized the operators for a finish tight
that it was he who had demonstrates that
the operators would not be justified III
Offering any increase and that it was he
who WAS first to swallow his words and ASK
for a scale which he new his fellow opera
tors could not afford to pay.
In the meantime the Indiana, Illinois and
Ohio operators had stood out against every
proposition, and during the morning and
afternoon had met every argument and
time and time again declared they wo,Id
not agree TO anything except the readop'
tioa OF the present scale. h operators
from the three States had agreed TO stand
together, and they adjourned his evening
with mutual pledges not to grant any con-
c~essions.
Leading operators say that. while Robbins
has betrayed them aud the organization
to which he belongs has violated the
long established rules of joint conferences
by voting against the operators and with
the miners, they don't believe he will profit
by it. They expect Vice-President Lewis
to lead the opposition against a scale agree
ment with Robbins and some OF them say
they have assurances that Mitchell canno
get the conventions Endorsement OF such
piecemeal settlement as Robbins proposes
THE scheme was Matched between
Mitchell and Robbins in the East when thel
tricked President Roosevelt into writing
that letter, said a member Of the operators
scale committee tonight. but you'll SCI
that Mitchell can't deliver the goods
Robbins will not profit by his ~treachery
for the miners themselves would not dar
to make a scale for the limited numoe
of men that he EMPLOYS. We are standing
where we stood at first and there WEIR
going to stay b.