Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-20
MINERS IN CONVENTION
Joint Conference With the OPP
orators Being Held
AT INDIANAPOLIS TODAY
Spirited Meeting Of the Latter Over
Peace Plans.
ROBBINS POLICY Is OPPOSED
Strong Feeling to Thresh Out Their
Troubles Among Themselves Be-
fore Consulting With Miners.

| INDIANAPOLIS. Ind. March aO.-The
convention of the United Mine Workers OF
America was called to order today by John
Mitchell at $50 O'Clock. The transporta-
| ton committee announced that It was not
| ready to report.
President Mitchell said the operators had
| signif1ed their willingness to meet the mine
| workers In joint conference. and 1t had
| been arranged to have tbs conference be-
| gin at 10 o'clock. The miners convention
| took a recess. but The delegates remained
| In the hall, moving about and chatting
among themselves. one-fourth of the hall
was cleared for the operators
| This space was at the right hand OF the
| chairman and the same that was occupied
| by the operators at the former conference.
| The balconies and galleries rapidly filled
| during the intermission. and a number of
women took seats on the stage. As usual.
| the operators were given the privilege Of
| choosing the chairman of the joint con-
| ference. w B. Wilson. secretary OF the
| miners organization, was selected as prin-
| cipal secretary of the conference.
! Sent Word for Joint Conference.
At II o'clock the operators sent word to
President Mitchell of the miners that they
! hot pt Itouy 10 meet tins uDLSiS Az
| joint conference until o'clock. Tho
miners were told Of this while waiting in
| Tomlinson Hall. and their recess was con-
tinued until that hour. The operators were
| still in secret session. It was reported on
| information secured from operators who
| came from the meeting that they were ar
ranging the details of their program In the
| joint conference
The operators went into executive session
| at the Claypool Hotel at 9:45. after sending
| word to the miners convention at Tomlin-
| son Hall that they would be there for the
| joint conference at 10 o'clock. The miners
| and spectators in the galleries were still
| awaiting at the hour. 1t was then an
| nounced that the operators were still in
| session. but were expected In few min
| utes.
At 1890 the operators were still in SEES
| sion and were arguing a proposition to
| take recess till 1870 pm
| Operators coming from the meeting also
| stated that the trouble among the oper-
| ators was being led by T. L. Robbins of
| Pittsburg and those supporting him In his
| peace plans, and the operators of Indiana,
Ohio and Illinois, who are opposing any
| concessions to the miners.
Robbins Plans.
| Mr.. Robbins 1t was understood, desired to
| go al once into joint conference with tho
/ Miners and If possible throw the discussion
| oe wage scale into the scale committee
| rather than have the fight made in the
| joint conference. This was opposed by the
opposite faction, which is largely In the
| majority.
| It was also proposed by those opposing
/ the policy of Mr. Robbins that the operators
| should thrash out their troubles among
| themselves before going into joint confer
| ence.
| At IL o'clock the conference of the presI-
| dents adjourned. after it had been decided
| to meet the miners in joint conference ar
| 2 o'clock.
| Held a Heated Session.
| The operators session was a heated one.
| A majority, consisting of the operators Of
Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. expressed de-
| sire that the differences In the council
| should be thrashed out before the Joint con-
| ference opened, and Mr. F. L. Robbins of
| Pittsburg, who was understood to favor
| peace with the miners even II concessions
| were necessary. was asked for statement
| of his position. He replied that he had
| never made any specific offer of an advance
| in wages, but declined to make a statement
| such as was desired.
1t was understood that he desired the
| joint conference to begin at 10 o'clock and
| If possible have the wage controversy taken
/ into the meeting of the joint scale COM
mittee rather than have the matter arguej
| on the floor. The operators adjourned with
| their differences not adjusted,
There has been new lining up of the
| Mitchell and Lewis factions of the miners
| This has resulted in Lewis gaining control
| of four of the miners sixteen votes to be
| cast in joint conferences and joint scale
| sessions II has also resulted In W. H
Haskins rendering his resignation as presi-
dent of the Ohio miners TO take effect
| Thursday.
| Haskins is a close friend Of Mr. Mitchell,
| and when the Ohio delegation elected Vice
/ President T. L. Lewis spokesman of the
1 Ohip 9raIp committeeman Dlacinsr In G'
| hands the Ohio miners four votes to be
cast a unit, Haskins regarded 1t as In
trusion on his rights. 1t being customary
| for the district president to cast the vote.
| He announced his withdrawal from the
scale committee and also that he would
| tender his resignation as president. The
| resignation will be received by the Ohio
| executive committee tonight.
Conference Is Delayed.
| With Lewis on the scale committee from
| Ohio were placed President-elect w H.
| Green, OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES George Savage
and Vice President Dennis Sullivan. It
| was argued by Vice President Lewis that
| Mr.. Haskins was. about to retire from the
| head of the Ohio miners, and that men
who will be in charge of the organization
| should be placed on the scale committee
/ William Dodds who was elected chairman
of the western Pennsylvania miners scale
| committee to serve In the joint conference
Is supposed to be friendly to the Lewis In
| terests
The trouble is said to have been brought
| to the surface when President Mitchell
omitted several names IN calling advisers
| to the recent New York conference. Among
| those omitted were Vice President Lewis
/ and VIM. DoddS.
! The joint conference of the southwest
| district, which had been arranged TO meet
/ at 10 o'clock today, was adjourned until
later. It's action will be determined largely
1 by the result of the joint conference of the
central competitive field.