The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-04-05
NO ACTION TAKEN
BY CONFERENCE
MINERS AND OPERATORS UNABLE
TO GET TOGETHER.
ADJOURN UNTIL THURSDAY.
Complete Disruption is Narrowly
Averted by Action of President
White-Difference Over
Emergency Men.

Des Moines, April 4.--The Iowa op-
lerators and miners joint conference
adjourned at noon today until Thurs
day morning. The operators want
TIME to get full vote on the ques.
ton Of scales. The signatures OF
some are being withheld until other
states decide. The mines will be
cared for meantime by the miners.
Came Near Breaking Point.
The joint conference came near
coming to the breaking off point yes
terday afternoon when the miners
gave the operators to understand that
the agreement for emergency men to
protect the properties from damage
during suspension made on saturday
had expired
The operators claimed to have un-
derstood that this agreement had
been made Saturday with the unoer.
standing it would apply until scale
is made, or until it became apparent
that the miners and operators would
be unable to get together on scale.
The miners insisted that the agree
ment terminated at the close of the
working day yesterday, and that it
was granted with the understanding
the operators were to negotiate new
scale on the basis of the 1903 agree.
ment. The crisis came when the op.
orators stated that they had said that
they would consider the restoration
of the scale, not that the negotiations
should be based on a 5.55 per cent
advance.
The miners then made it apparent
that they proposed to force matters
by insisting that this scale should at
least apply to the emergency men.
Operators Have Not Met.
Commissioner Reese stated that
the operators had not held meeting
as yet to consider on what basis they
will open the negotiations and gave
as the reason that Senator H. l.. Wat
erman, president of the operators as
ISOLATION and floor manager for them,
would not reach the city until today.
The miners tnen proposed to grant
emergency men for tonight, but want.
ed it understood these are to be paid
the advance.
Mr.. Reese and the operators fatty
refused to do this and as gooa as gave
the miners to understand that if this
was to be insisted upon the negotia-
tions would terminate at once and
that the operators would do the best
they could to keep the mines in or
der. Mr.. Reese insisted that it was
the agreement the emergency men
were to continue until scale is made
or as long as there is prospect of one,
and that it was the understanding
these were to be paid on the basis of
any scale that might be arrived at.
He told the miners that they were
taking a dangerous stand and one that
would lose them the sympathy or sup
port of the public If they proposed to-
withdraw emergency men at this time
and in the face of harmonious nego-
tiations and jeopardize the coal prop
critics of the state.
White Takes Reins.
President White of the miners, who
had just returned from the Indianap-
oils conference, said that he proposed
to assume little authority, with the
sanction of the miners branch, and
would say that the emergency men
will be supplied as long as the con-
ference lasts, and with the under
standing they are to receive the 1908
scale If it is adopted, and that if it is
not, that their compensation will be
determined by agreement between
himself and Mr.. Reese. Mr.. Reese
polled the operators branch and
found this proposition met with its
approval Mr.. White received the.
support o. the miners branch and the