Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-03-31
STRIKE OR PEACE
IN THE BALANCE
Miners to Vote on Accepting 1903
Scale For Two Years.
DEBATE IN JOINT CONFERENCE


conference OF the coal miners and OPP
orators OF the central competitive dis
lrict adjourned until this Thursday
afternoon. with no apparent settle
ment of their wage differences in pros
pect.
motion to continue the present
scale Tor two years. made by the oper'
ators. was defeated by the solid vote
of the miners. An amendment to
President Mitchells motion To restore
the scale OF 1903. offered by +. l..
Robbins. of the Pennsylvania opera
tors. to make the restored schedule
effective for two years. was accepted
by Mr. Mitchell. subject TO ratiiica-
ton by the national miners convcn-
ton.
This was the only action taken. The
rest was argument. during the course
OF which great earncstness on the part
OF the miners and both factions OF the
operators was shown. President Mitch
ell charged that many coal companies
are owned by railroads. and the profit
OF the coal companies, as much OF It
Is absorbed by the railroads. He an
nounccd that the miners would con
tinue in the future 10 ask for more
wages ii the market justified. and
stated positively that the miners
would adhere to their demand Tor an
increase AT this time.
There were number of suggestions
and hints at an arbitration commits
sion during the day X. II. Hammond
said the complications of the coal situ-
alton would never be understood by
the public until they had been exam.
ined by commission. and he was
willing that the differences should be
settled by n commission.
During the debate Mr.. Mitchell
said: THE American people are GO
ing to ask and insist upon knowing
why the operators cannot pay an adj.
vance of three cents n ton. And we
are going TO ask You why you can now
charge the American people an adj
vance of 81 per ton and not be able
10 pay us an advance OF three cents
ton During the past two weeks the
American people and ! do not mean
the railroads. have been compelled to
pay at the mines more than 81 ton
more for coal Mr. Hammond says he
will show MS the books OF the Dering
Coal company ask him If he will also
let us see the books of the Rock Island
Railroad company"
Mr.. Robbins was applauded when
he said the miners were entitled To
some of the present prosperity of the
country. He said the burden of over.
production belonged To the operators.
and should not be borne by the miners.
He referred TO the horrors Of industrial
strikes. and urged the operators to
Withdraw from ;n"S... l,,.....;;."s, a. q
business proposition. He said Indian
apols was full of spies from the un'
organized fields. aiding in securing a
strike. and ne did not purpose that
these fields should get the coal trade
II he could prevent IL. He said the
crisis was at hand. and he asked the
miners. WIittNiT inlEul nv NV Hhda
outcome. that they remember their
families and themselves. and In the
interest OF organized labor agree 70
sign the advanced scale where offered.
He said the miners owed this TO them
selves. to fairness and To the president
of the United States.
j. II. Winder said there had been no
increase in coal tonnage in Ohio In
three years.
J. b. Zerbe. an Ohio operator said
this was the first scale conference In
years where motives had been impugn-
ed and invectives had been hurled.
LET the gentleman from Pennsyl.
vania." said he. raise the wages OF
his men who are working for l3 cents
less than the scale We are paving YOU.
Let this dirty coking coal cease To be
sold on the markets for steam coal.
know one man who said he had made
100000 year doing this. II Mr. Rob.
bins was honest in January. there Is
nothing In the market that warrants
change OF sentiment"