The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-30

ID. FRIDA | :. MI time when you were glad I was an officer l of the railroad
 What do you mean by that statementP' demanded Mr. Mitchell
 MT. Parker: T have issued free trans portation on your account"
 MT. Mitchell strenuousy denied the charge, and demanded that the statement be withdrawn.
 Mir. Parker said he could substantate it. and MT. Mitchell said he had never ridden mile on railroad without pay | ing full fare He said MT Parkers state ment was untrue and he defed him to prove it. He said he had never been un- der any obligations personally to any op- | orator or railroad. The chair interfered and endeavored to stop the discussion.
 Mir Mitchell said the debate should not be closed until either the charge was withdrawn or his reputation was vindi- cated before the country. He said it was the first time in his life that a statement had been made refecting upon i his personal character He demanded that MT. Parker admit that so far as he knew Mir Mitchell had never been granted any personal favors. either by a railroad company or a coal company
 MT. Parker said so far as he knew MT. Mitchell had never been granted any personal favor.
 Ryan Makes Explanation.
 w. D. Ryan of the Illinois miners organization said he could explain. He said very estimable young lady at Spring Valley, H., who lived with Mrs, Mitchell, had been gfven transportation to visit her parents. CT am responsible for that" said Mir. Ryan. T asked for the transportation and MT. Mitchell did not know it."
 Mir. Mitchell added that he knew noth- ing about 1t and MT. Part withdrew his remarks.
 Mir Mitchell continued his references to MT Parker's dual position as a railroad and coal company official. point of order was raised by J, IT. inder who insisted that this had nothing to do with making a wage scale. MT. Mitchell re- ferred to MT. Winder's statement made | yesterday that the Madison Coal com | pany was owned by the Hooking Valley i Railroad company and charged that this 1 made it possible for a loss to be shown on the books of the coal company, when ] in reality profits had been absorbed by 1 the owning railroad.
 The chair asked if MT. Mitchell meant to charge that this was true MT Mltcne1l. It may De true. F. l.. Robbins: "T say the responsibility of low prices today is due more to rail- road ownership of coal companies than because of their desire to have coal trans ported at prices made that otherwise would be made and we would have to 1 meet that competition
 This statement was loudly applauded by the miners
 Have No Coal Piled Up.
 Mir Mitchell said. the miners had no coal piled I'D or ulteror motives in their position. He said they were trying as citizens to reach an agreement, and an adjustment of wage differences.
 A. M. Ogle disputed MT. Mitehells ref erences to coal companies having piled up coal to sell at increased prices.
 Walter Mullins of Cleveland. said a strike would result in giving birth to 1 still greater corporations. and would operate against the smaller independent operators. Replying to him MT. Robbins said his company was not dominated by any railroad or steel company 1 b. c. Thomas of the Pennsylvania op- orators and NJ. A. Yeager of the New England Coal company. an independent l operator, said he came to the convention in the belief that the miners would ae- cept the present scale He said he rep resented two million tons of Hooking coal
 Turning to the operators and address ing them he said:
 | "I advocated the present scale weeks ago. and I was honest. I now advocate the payment of the advanced scale and | I am honest. I am convinced that we l must pay the advance or the miners will strike. I advised my companies that we had better pay the advance. I have been l through great strikes. Some of you don t l know what a strike means. Some of l you sitting there will be destroyed by a strike It Is not question of profit. I appeal to you operators to pay this ad- vance. Open up your hearts, and pay 1t. l Great laughter)
 l "I am not in politics and am not talk l ing the position for any other cause be- cause I believe the prevention of a strike is to the best interest of my com 1 panies."
 Previous Question Suggested.
 J. II. Winder, chairman of the oper- ators, suggested the previous question and that debate be closed. On the roll call the previous question was ordered by unanimous vote. The vote was called l up on the motion of MT. Mitchell as | amended by MT. Robbins that the 1903 l wage scale be restored for two years. | Operators of Illinois, Indiana and Ohio 1 voted no. Western Pennsylvania oper- | ators and the miners of the four states | voted yes. The united vote prevailed and under 1t the unanimous vote of the operators and miners was required to | carry the motion.
 There was silence in the hall for some minutes following the announcement by the chair that the motion had been lost. 1 Mir Winder walked across the hall and 1 held short conference with MT. Mitch 1 ell The delegates talked among them selves while Mr Mitchell talked with II. | N Taylor and other operators for nearly half hour.
 It was o'clock when the motion of MT Mitchell was voted upon, and it was 1 not untn 4;3a D, m. that move was | made by either side when MT. Winder moved an adjournment sine die. Randolph Smith, president of the llli- | nois operators. seconded the motion. The | vote was called by states, the vote being 1 unanimous.
 In making the motion to adjourn sine I die MT. Winder said:
 | Tt seems to me we have reached the | limit of discussion upon the question of l the wage scale for the ensuing year. If I felt that any thing further could be | accomplished by holding this convention