The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-02
COAL men CLASH;
STRIKE IS NEAR
Joint Conference Of Mine opep
ators and Workers Fails
to Agree.
JOHN MITCHELL CALLS
MINERS CONVENTION
Vote of Pennsylvania Man in the
Conference Started
Row.

COuleIeHCe 0tdI Ieu
Row.
Indianapolis, Feb. 2-The joint con-
ference of the coal miners and operators
adjourned sine die today after the chair
had declared lost motion by II. u.
Robbins, a Pittsburg operator, that the
present wage scale be continued.
Patrick Dolan, president Of the Penn
sylvania miners, voted for the miners
Of that district in favor Of the motion,
which carried it.
President Mitchell Of the miners at
once called the national convention Of
that organization to meet at 2 o'clock.
AS Viewed by Operator.
Nj. Robbins reviewed the difference
in the condition Of the miners now
and when the interstate and joint con-
ference movement went into effect.
you have advanced wages and
shorter hours said he. "Without
argument and in the face Of all fair
ness you yesterday met and repndiated
a fair proposition. want to 60 on
DDS. Yesterday coal sold in Chicago
at 81 ton, carrying an 80-cent freight
rate because the railroads were de-
manding the cars, and yet you refuse
to allow one district to sign an agree
ment unless we propose to deal with
our miners even handed, with the same
representation on each side. We do
states, with conditions entirely differ
ent from ours, to dictate as to the set
! Element of our affairs in our district.
Your proposition adopted yesterday is
absurd. A little section up in Michigan
! could refuse a settlement and tie up
/ the whole country. You have a con-
ference with the anthracite operators
coming. If / were an anthracite opera
tor / would refuse to deal with you. .
John Mitchell Replies.
President Mitchell took the floor in
reply. Said he: cit is kind of Mr..
Robbins to say that we have presented
no argument. We refuse to allow the
operators to have the final say as to
ment or not. We have shown that coal
a is selling at the mines at from 30 to SO
i cents q ton higher than it was selltnk
Il seven months ago. We showed this BY
4 their own circulars. We have shown
4 by their circulars that the condition Of
their own trade: is highly prosperous.
The country is in the highest degree
u pTOSptI1ty. otOChS anu OOuoS dlO
selling higher than ever before. And
1 yet, notwithstanding this situation, WE,
q are asked to continue a lower wage
scale than we had two years ago. And
/ Mr.. Robbins will remember that two
years ago, when we accepted lower
q scale on account of an unfortunate sit
4 uation existing at that time, he prom
ised that the reduction would be re-
4 stored at the next conference
. Parting of the Ways.
!. Mr.. Mitchell reiterated his arguments
for an increase in wages which he had
previously made in the joint conference
and in closing said.
eve have come to the parting of the
ways and it seems to me the only thing
l left to do is to go home and there try
to overcome the seemingly insurmount
able obstacles. We deeply regret the
necessity for such a step, but we feel
that the time has come when you can
given us an advance in wages without
damaging your property interests to
any considerable extent
Herman Perry, president of the Hi.
nols miners, spoke briefly in favor OF
the right Of the miners to forbid any
district to sign an agreement until all
had signed When he took his seat
there were cries Of Question" from
: the miners side of the house.
Question Put to Vote.
The motion of F. L. Robbins that the
| present wage scale be continued In
, force was put Patrick Dolan voted
syes'' for the Pennsylvania miners and
the vote was challenged. Mr.. Dolan
arose and said:
ct have authority to cast the vote
for the Pennsylvania miners and until
that authority is taken away from me l
vote ives, ~
There were loud cries of "No, throw
him OUT eve IL take the authority
away from him. -
, President Mitchell said, "The con-
vention of the miners decided to refuse
: the proposition Just presented and the
J miners vote No. -
Mr.. Robbins said the miners had the
right to vote by states unless the presi-
dent of the miners assumed the position
t of a dictator.
President iMcthell said he did not
assume such position. The miners
| organization has Endorsed the report
/ of the scale committee, which refused
l to continue the present wage scale,
said he, ssand, when the miners speak
e as unit am their spokesman
Y Secretary Wilson announced that he
would refuse to announce the vote I'M
til it should be decided how the vote
/. was cast.
Authority or Dolan.
l A Pittsburg delegate stated that Mr.:
: Dolan did not express the sentiment of
s the Pennsylvania miners when he yot-
ed yes. a voice shouted that Mr.. Do.
: Ian was president of the district, and
: had authority to cast the vote for the
Q Pennsylvania miners. Another Penn
t sylvania delegate said he would like
s to know where Mr.. Dolan got his au-
thority to cast the vote as he did.
E Mr. Robbins appealed to the chair
| for . decision as to whether the secre-
fary should not be required to announce
!, the vote The chair said: Each state
! has four votes. Mr.. Dolan has the
: right to announce the vote of the
; Pennsylvania miners. The motion is
!. carried -
Mr.. Robbins at once moved that the
Joint conference adjourn sine die. This
& was carried amid some confusion.
President Mitchell at once announced
a meeting of the national convention
!, of miners at 2 o'clock.