The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-04-20
Affair in Which Four
Persons Were Shot to
be investigated and
Funds May be Voted
For Prosecution.
President Mitchell at Con-
ference Says the Strike
Was Recognized by
the Union--The Condi-
tions in Ohio.

tons in Ohio.
Indianapolis, Ind, April 17.-Tne
international executive board of the
miners which began a four days ses-
sion here today decided late this after
noon that no difference in favor of the
West Virginia operators can be made.
The West Virginia operators had offer
ed a compromise advance of three
per cent in wages Following this
decision Commissioners Ireland, Lit
tlepage and Grounds, of the West Vir-
ginia miners tonight sent the following
telegram to the headquarters at Char
lestown, w. Va:
Get 1903 scale or strike"
The session Of the executive board
will have bearing on the great coal
strike IN the bituminous and anthra-
cite fields. The matters "docketed"
for consideration today we're the offer
of West Virginia operators in the
Kanawha field to pay three per cent
increase in wages, and the protest of
the Illinois operators against the un-
ion not keeping men on duty to main
tain their mines in good physical con-
dition.
The indications are that the prOpO-
sition made by w. II. Winder, chair
man of the stand pat" operators on
the central competitive field to Presi-
dent Mitchell that the bituminous
matters in controversy be referred TO
arbitration will be taken up tomor-
row. 1t will be one of the most i'm
portant matters to come before the
board at this season.
LEWIS GIVES VIEWS.
President Mitchell ana Secretary
Treasurer w B. Wilson refuse to say
what will be their attitude on the
Winder proposition but Vice President
#. L. Lewis, who arrived in the city
this morning, has stated his views.
81 am" he said. mot in favor of ar
bitration unless we have right to
fix the basis upon which arbitration
decisions are to be rendered. The
basis of arbitration should always be
specified by the party making the
proposition in order that the other
party to whom the proposition is pre-
Bented may give an intelligent answer
with reasons why the proposition
should or should not be accepted.
That is one of the fundamental prop
Ositions of arbitration"
There are strong indications that a
large percentage of the board mem
bers at this time stand absolutely
against the proposition of arbitra-
ton in the bituminOus affair. They
seem convinced that the operators will
surrender within As days and they
also point to the fact that they have
already signed contracts with many
operators in all states and that these
contracts would stand in the way OF
arbitration. The largest producer in
the country has signed our scale and
said it is just-why should we arbi-
trate?' said one board member to-
day
The anthracite situation will prob
ably also be taken up for considera-
tion tomorrow. President Mitchell
expetcts a reply from the anthracite
operators tomorrow on the anthracite
miners latest arbitration proposition
and final decision will not be reach
ed untl it has been received.
The question of leVying a strike
assessment on the members now at
work will be one of the last matters
considered. The board will probably
not adjourn before Friday.
OUTLOOK IN OHIO.
Vice President T. l. Lewis, who re-
turned from West Virginia and Ohio
says that the Hooking Valley oper-
ators who have signed the scale mine
about 20 per cent of the tonnage OF
that district, and that the operators
of the whole state of Ohio, who have
signed contracts mine about eight per
about six per cent is commercial coal.
in West Virginia the joint scale com
mittee adjourned last Saturday until
tonight. The operators have offered
the three per cent increase in wages,
which the board considered today Mr..
Lewis refuses to discuss the outlook
I'm Ohio.
The miners board will consider the
''Windber massacre" which occurred
at Windber, Pa, last night. in which
four persons were shot down. Secre-
Treasurer w. b. Wilson has re-
eeived an account of the killing OF
the strikers at Windber, which lays