The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-31
1908 SCALE FOR SOFT COAL.
MINERS ADOPT 1T AND HOPE FOR
GENERAL SETTLEMENT.
RumOrs nat Demands on Anthracite
Operators VIII BE Greatly Modified at
Tuesday's conference.-the Day Talk
Over BItumInOus Terms-NO Arbitration

Operators VIII BE Greatly Modified at
Tuesday's conference.-the Day Talk
Over BitumlnOus Terms-NO Arbitration
INDIANAPOLIS, March sO.-The Pitts
burg Coal Company and all other operators
who will sign the 1908 scale will be permitted
to run their mines. The scale represents
an increase Of 55 per cent. over present
wages received by the miners and was the
final proposition made by the scale COM
mittee at the joint conference.
Affirmative action by the miners con-
vention to-day was not secured until many
Of the leaders had arrayed themselves
on opposite sides Of the question. Preei-
dent Mitchell warmly advocated the plan
of letting all operators who would work
under the 1908 scale. He predicted that
this would lead to settlement in the end
with all. Some Of those who agree with
him on other points declared that the plan
would lead to a guerrilla warfare, but 1t
appeared to be the best that could be
devised.
The debate was earnest but not acrimo-
NOUS. On one side were President Mitchell,
Secretary-Treasure Wilson, President Perry
of Illinois, President O'Connor of Indiana
and w. II. Tlaskins, the retiring president
of the Ohio miners; and on the opposite
side we're Vice-President Lewis, President
Green and Secretary Savage Of Ohio. The
battle lasted from $50 this morning till
$3.50 in the afternoon. When n vote was
finally taken the resolution Of n. c. Berry
of Illinois that contracts be made with all
operators who would sign the 1903 scale
was adopted by a viva voce vote of APP
parently two to one
The action OF the convention does not
change the status of the strike order, which
calls all the bituminous and anthracite
miners out tomorrow night. Every mine
is to be idle until the scale is properly
signed by the operators and the district
officer. In all cases men needed to pre-
serve property, such az engineers, firemen
and pump men, are to remain at their posts,
as In the anthracite fields.
A great deal Of attention was given in the
convention to the telegram sent by President
Mitchell and President Robbins to President
Roosevelt this morning. Mitchell main
tanned on'the convention floor that the state
ments in the despatch we're absolutely true.
He said he had gone over the records of the
bituminous output carefully n he was
satisfied that more than so per cent. Of the
coal fields would be represented by opera
tors who are willing to sign the scale.
The delegates cheered Mitchell as he
spoke and denounced the proposals of the
operators as a shame. Some Of the speak
ers said it was a trick on the part of the
operators TO get a declaration from a COM
mission in favor of the open shop.
Mitchell will leave Sunday afternoon for
New York. He refused to discuss the de-
mands that the miners will present to the
operators Tuesday, but it is understood
that the original demands nave been greatly
modified and that they will probably only
consist of a demand for the eight hour day,
which would mean an increase in wages,
or for a slight increase in wages for certain
day labor that, it is asserted. did not get
justice in the award of the Anthracite
Strike Commission.
When asked if he had received any word
from the. anthracite fields to the effect that
the operators there would endeavor to
operate their mines despite the order for
the men to quit work, Mitchell said no such
intimation had reached him. The presi-
dents OF the anthracite districts were in
consultation with Mitchell to-day and left
tonight to take personal charge of the
suspension which will be ~inaugurated to-
morrow night throughout Pennsylvania.
The miners and operators of the South
western districts broke of friendly negotia-
tons at a meeting in the German House
this afternoon. President Mitchell pre-
sented the miners ultimatum, the restora-
ton Of the 1908 day wage and dead work
scale, and an addition OF 8 cents a ton to
the mining rate. 1t was rejected by the
operators.
President Perry of the operators a~ssocia-
ton said:
Gentlemen. we now propose to leave
all these differences to a commission APP
pointed by the President Of the United
States. the findings of which commission
shall be binding on both sides. There are
to be no limitations or conditions attached. "
There we're several speeches on the miners
side of the houee against arbitration.
YOUNGSTOWN, Pa. March 30.-The Ber-
wind-White Coal Mining Company's Of
ficials at Windber announced tonight that
they would post notices tomorrow at all
their mines that the Robbins proposition to
pay the 1903 scale a restoration of 5.55 per
cent. would be paid by the company after
April /. The Berwind White is the biggest
operator in the central Pennsylvania
fields.