The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1906-03-30
RAY Q HOPE REMAINS
HINTS AT INDIANAPOLIS OF AR
BiTRATiNG MINE TROUBLE.
FAR APART ON WAGE SCALE

Independent Operator Says There 10
Chance Of Opponents Agreeing to
Settlement Through Committee Ap.
pointed by President Roosevelt.
indianapolis. March 29.-The joint
conference OF coal miners and oper.
ators Of the central competitive dis.
trict adjourned until this afternoon.
with no settlement Of their wage DIFF.
ferences reached and apparently with
lone in prospect.
A motion to continue the present
scale for two years. made by the op-
orators, was defeated by the solid vote
of the miners. An amendment TO
President MitChell's motion to restore
the scale OF 1903, offered by +. l..
Robbins of the Pennsylvania operat.
ors, that 1t be made effective for two
years, was accepted by Mr.. Mitchell
subject to ratification by the national
miners convention, which met this
morning to consider the question.
This was the only action taken dur
hg the day. The rest was argument,
during the course of which great earn.
estness upon the part of the miners
and both factions Of the operators was
shown. President Mitchell charged
that many coal companies are owned
by railroads, and the profit on coal is
not indicated by the books of the coal
companies, as much OF 1t is absorbed
hn TailrnnhG 10 nnnntInRnI "A
the miners would continue in the fut.
ure to ask for more wages II the mar.
ket justified, and stated positively
that the miners would adhere to their
demand for an increase at this time.
Operators of Illinois, Indiana and
head Of Illinois, who said he thought
Illinois should break away from the
interstate agreement; II. N. Taylor OF
Illinois, II. r. Hammond, Chairman
Winder and Secretary Bent of the ILL
nois operators reaffirmed their refusal
to pay an advance. +. l.. Robbins OF
Pennsylvania offered to pay the ad.
vance asked, not only In the mines of
the Pttsburg Coal company. but in his
own mines in Pennsylvania, Ohio and
Illinois, and urged the miners to sign
the scale wherever it was offered
even though the mines Of the other
operators should lie idle.
Hints at Arbitration.
There were q number of suggestions
and hints at an arbitration commits
sion during the day. w. d. Kuhn OF
the independent operators made refer
ence of possible committee. to be
appointed by the president.
Mr.. Mitchell said in one of his
speeches: 81 want to ask the oper
ators of the Pittsburg district II they
are in accord with the suggestion as
to an investigation? | want to ask
Mr.. Winder and the operators OF Ohio
and want TO ask the operators of In
diana. II this proposed investigation
contemplates an investigation as tc
the relative cost OF coal in pick ant
machine mines?"
]. II. Winder, chairman of the oper
ators, replied: "If there Is to be ar
investigation upon which the price o.
|
mining is to be fixed and the relative
differences adjusted between the vari
GUS portions Of the interstate move
ment. then think 1t would be prope
to take into consideration all ant
any questions that are pertinent there
to-"
Answering the arguments made dur
ing the day against an advance. MI
Mitchell closed the debate with thu
following statement: The miners. 81
far as we are concerned. in case OF
strike. will have no riots and n,
bloodshed. We may, II a prolonged
strike takes place. have hunger AM
we may wear poorer clothes. We ma
endure greater hardships. but tn
miners are just as law abiding an,
just as patriotic as are the gentlemen
on your side"