Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-03-29
THEIR ULIINATUM.
Miners Declare They Will Not Ac-
cept Less Than 1908 Scale.
OPERATORS AREEXPECTED TORETUSE
No District VIII Sign Even Mt Adj
vanced Rates Demanded Unless
Paid in Entire Compete
tive Field.


indianapolis, March T.-The United
Mine Workers of America through
John Mitchell, president Of the organi-
zatiop; T. l., Lewis, vice president OF
the national union, and Herman G.
Perry Of the Illinois miners Monday
afternoon presented to the coal opera
tors in the executive session Of the
Joint scale committee of the Central
competitive district their ultimatum on
the dispute over the wage scale.
The demand Of the miners, as stated
In their ultimatum, Is for restoration
of the wage scale Of 1908, which is an
increase Of 5.55 per cent, Upon the
receipt of the ultlmatum the operators
secured an adjournment of the commit
tee until Tuesday morning when 1t
is expected definite answer to the
miners will be given. It Is anticipated
that this reply will be refusal by
the operators and the committee will
report disagreement to the joint con-.
ference Of miners and operators, The
fight In that case vail be continued
on the floor Of the joint convention.
Monday night there was as little
prospect for an agreement being reach
ed as there has been at any time.
The morning session of the commit
tee Monday was without result. After
the noon adjournment, John Mitchell,
president Of the miners, took the floor
and said he had been informed there
were rumors that the operators be-
lleved IL they would stand firmly by
their position and prolong the sessions
OF the joint scale committee, the min
ers would agree to sign the present
scale and recede from their demand
for an increase In wages He said he
wanted to explain to the operators
that under no circumstances would
there be an agreement at less than the
scale Of 1903 unless after disagree
ment the operators could enforce less
terms and he did not believe they
could.
Mr.. 7. L. Lewis, vice president OF
the United Mine Workers, followed
Mr.. Mitchell. He said he was sur
prised to learn at the present stage
OF the proceedings that such ru,nore
were afioat, and continuing SAID
want to say more than President
Mitchell has said We will be divid
ed neither in this scale conference
out Of this scale conference. in the
convention nor anywhere elsa, 60 far
as ] am concerned. II we have got
tc such Q point lu these deliberations
where 1t is case Of wait to see who
Ia fcing to be slle to divide this
forces on either sioe. then lplieve
va are considering a very dangerous
proposition.
"a realize fully the present sitna.
ton. have not I. eated the Situation
confronting us i, rIy frivolous man
ner. | know what suspension OF
NoTA means 10 our people; J know
What 1t will priblI ly mean to mil.
Ions Of other pe, pie who are not di
rttly intereatli IN these lMstlous !
~ only Interested tc the ex.snt that
Il Affects their interests when the mid
sfs cease work. lave hopes that we
my be- able 10 End solution Of our
present difficulties, but that solution
Will only come when both sides are
ryms WI n Gie pr-5es paid IN 1905.
Can the operators pay the 1908
scaleY We believe they can and
there Is no reason for our consider
Ing anything else"
Herman c. Perry, president Of tho
Illinois miners. said he had heard IL
n1mored that different interests had
been attempting 70 use their inau-
ences TO bring about a strike, nota.
bly, The small operators and the coal
dealers who he had been informed
were supporting a lobby IN The hope
o. influencing the operators 10 force
q sstssysemgut He intlmated that