Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-10
PITTSBURG OPERATORS MEET
Coal Mine Owners Agree to ACT as Unit in
indianapolis Conference.
SENSATION SPRUNG IN MEETING
Mr.. Robbins, In Response to Question,
Says President Wrote Letter at
Request Of MIR. Mitchell
and Himself.

PITTsBURG, March 9--when the coal
operators of the Pittsburg district go TO
the conference at Indianapolis March 10,
with the operators of Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois, they will take stand a body.
This action was determined at the meeting
called by Francis l.. Robbins and which
was held In this city today. There were
about fifty operators present
Tonight it was learned that there was
somewhat Of a sensation sprung during
the meeting From a source that is re-
garded trustworthy it is learned that a
demand was made of Mr.. Robbins, who was
presiding, that an explanation be made OF
how President Roosevelt came TO enlist iii
the pending controversy between the miners
and the operators. The demand, it is said
was made by George b. Magoon. vice presl
dent and general manager of the Pittsbura
and Westmoreland Coal company. one o,
the largest of the Independent coal conl-
panies.
MIR. Robbins Explains.
Mr.. Robbins said the whole matter waA
accomplished as result of a conference
with John Mitchell while they were in New
York. The situation was serious and both
agreed that it was necessary to get an
other meeting of the interstate conference
Mr.. Robbins explaining further, said Mr.
Mitchell went to the long distance tele-
phone and called up the president at the
! White House, After explaining to him he
suggested that he write a letter to Mr.
Robbins, urging that new conference be
called. He also asked the president to
talk the matter over with Mr.. Robbins
and Mr.. Robbins went to the line and ar
ranged that the letter be written. This was
on Monday. February "a, and the following
day February %. Mr.. Robbins received the
letter from President Roosevelt and the
call of another convention followed. This,
| Mr. Robbins said. was the story of the
presidents intervention.
Against Long Contract.
One of the strongest speeches made at
todays meeting, it was said tonight, was
against any contract for more than single
year The longer term was held to be
against the interests of the producers who
have to bear the variations of the coal
market. The miners who have been heard
of late have been taking It for granted that
the two-year scale was of the operators
seeking, but are now becoming acquainted
with the real facts in the case. 1t was
stated by the coal men today that the
partial settlement of the dispute at Indian
apols, or the settlement of the wage
| agreement by the Pittsburg district, with
the rest of the operators holding back,
could mean but one thing and that was the
dissolution OF the interstate agreement and
| Q general decline of the power of the
lIrnitad Mine Workers, which would then
have many districts and states to settle
with separately and would be kept in a
| continual state OF trouble because of the
dragging along of the conferences. 1t was
regarded as certain by some of those
most interested that any and all operators
who sign the new agreement will be al
lowed to work their mines whether the
others sign or not, and 1t is believed will
finally determine the struggle within the
next few months,
Attitude of Ohio Operators.
COLUMBUS, o.. March 9.-According tc
a statement made tonight by E. II. Windel
Of Columbus, who was chairman of the
Ohio coal operators conference held al
Cleveland yesterday, the Ohio operators
will ask the indianapolis conference tC
settle the miners dispute on broad grounds
applicable to the entire competitive field
and that all questions of local nature
be left solely for local settlement. One
of these is the dispute over shot trers II
Illinois. The Ohio operators, It is said
Will lnSlSt tuhl lue NOilSASilSS S''''-'s -
tie the basis of the wage scale alone
This may result in local strikes but woult
not tie up the entire field.
Whether or not there is a settlement
at Indianapolis there will be a practica
suspension of mining during April and May
According to the statement Of Ohio ope
rators the talk Of strike has resulted IL
immense quantities of coal being accumu
lated and already over 10000 tons arr
loaded in lake vessels waiting for naviga
tiou TO start