The Cairo bulletin., 1906-01-17
COAL MINERS TO
DECIDE QUESTION
INDIANAPOLIS CONVENTION Is
NOW FACE TO FACE WITH
PEACE OR WAR.
KEEP STRICT SILENCE
Union Officials Refuse to Talk But
Feeling is Abroad That Some
thing viii Prevent
Trouble.

indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 1G--Will the
| miners convention bring about the
greatest labor dispute of modern times
| or will il pave the way for peace?
This question could not be answered
today by any of the high officials Of
| The miners of by the delegates. The
interests involved are 80 vast and The
complications so many that only the
wi est moves of the officials accus-
/ toned 10 intricate problems can
solve the prolem,
But, Notwithstanding the serious
ness of the situation there is strain
| If peace running through all the prog
uostication.
II is believed that something will
turn up to prevent strike of anthra-
cite miners but no definite reason for
this feeling has been given,
President Mitchell is silent on the
question,
Strong Demand for Increase.
Among the bituminous miners there
IS a strong demand for an increase
n wages. Ohio and Illinois miners
declare they will not recede from the
| demand and the claim hat the opera
tors will make the concession at least
10 per cent. will be considered
Another demand to be made is that
the differential between pick and
machine mining be reduced
In Ohio Is per cent. of the coal
mined last year was by machines, an
increase Of "A per cent over the pre-
yious year. While the miners are
working half time, The production of
coal in that state last year was two
tons per capita, while, five years ago,
il was only one.
0hto delegates declare the tlifferens
'ial of 2S cents ton should be wiped
nut or half the miners will be driven
nut of The business.
Would Be Done BY Hand.
If there were no differental they
assert mining would be done by hand,
rs il would be cheaper This differen-
ial was fixed in 1898, when all mining
vas done by hand
The Illinois operators will present
counter proposition TO the miners of
that state. They will demand that the
miners secure the repeal of the shot
firer's law and accept the double
standard for mining.
/, FTiis @sult givd tie 'oberIots' the
,ptfon of paying on a minesrun basis
. lr on screened coal. The miners say
srhe oIa'tiltois are merely presenting
ghesc ISSUES for trailing purposes in
he joint convention, .'..,.,i.,....
Michigan delegates favor a 10 per
cent increase, while the Pennsyl
vania miners will support the move
unanimQusly> II is limited that. the
Pennsylvania operators will pay what
Eyer price is asked without question.
No Threats From Miners.
This is the first convention of
miners that has not been heralded by
threats that a strike. would be called
f their demands were not granted. On
the other hand, the operators always
have threatened lockout If reduc-
ton in wages was not agreed to.
President Mitchel's report is simi-
ar to the one presented by him, two
wears ago Unless be- has supple
mentary report. it is said the new one
now in print will not explain the situa-
ion very clearly
The bi'uminuous miners, while max
ing no threats, declare they are de-
termincd to secure an increase The
anthracite miners are somewhat back
ward I'm stating their position.
One prominent anthracite miner re-
ported that the hard coal trust had
more than 100000 tons of coal
stored for protection during a strike.
This had an influence on his listeners
and encouraged the idea that a strike
would be avoided in that field.
Strict Silence vn Strike.
Every official and delegate is main
tanning strict silence on the strike
question All eyes are centered on
Pres dent Mitchell. He was visited to-
lay by scores of delegates. but did
not discuss with them any subject
bearing on the situation
The few operators in the city d.
clare a 10 per cent Increase will not
be granted. They intimate that all the
miners should expect would be
-etoration of the wages paid before
the reduction IN 1904 This was $50
per cent
But We will not grant any increase"
they said
There are eleven hundred delegates
at tn convention which opens tomor-
row.
President Mitchell held a confer
ence last night with District President
Nichols. Fahey and Dietry. of the an
ihrscite field He outlined TO them the
position Of the operators.
The conference was kept secret but
IT is understood the three pres dents