New-York tribune., 1906-03-23
STRIKE NOW SEEMS SURE
CO4L MEN FAR APART.
Neither Side VIII C0ncede More
Robbins VOtes zcith Miners.


Indianapolis March 22-When the joint con-
ference Of bituminous miners and operators
adjourned this evening il was with the under
standing that another meeting would be held to-
morrow but why it should be done no one
seems 10 know, as every proposition MADE oy
each side had been rejected. and both say Ihat
they have nothing more to offer. The miners
OF the scale committee offered as a last resort
for. peace this afternoon TO adopt the scale OF
1903 with all its working conditions. but the
ofer was rejected. the Western Pennsylvania
opera tors however. voting with the miners TOT
its adoption. The scale proposed by the miners
Is the one used before the 30 per cent reduction
Of 1904 and its adoption would be equiValenl
70 an increase Of 55 per cent.
The operators expected this suggestion ana
before going into the joint scale conference the
Indiana. Illinois and Ohio men decided not to ac-
cept any proposition that looked 10 an increase
of wages They reafirmed their willingness to
adopt the present scale for another two years
and this they declared, was as far as they would
go They understood that President Mitchell
and President Robbins Of the Pittsburg Coal
Company had agreed on the 1903 scale. and they
expected the miners 10 propose it
The operators did not invite the Western
Pennsylvania men 10 their caucus, because Of
feeling against Robbins for having agreed with
Mitchell regarding scale without consulting
from President Roosevelt. but the operators say
that he viii not interfere, and that they win
make no concessions even If he does. The situa-
tion tonight is more serious than ever. and
strike is regarded as certain.
IN making the motion for the wage scale OF
1858 the mine workers receded from their former
demands Of a run Of mine basis q diferential
Of Z per cent an eight-hour day, an increase Of
121z per cent in wages, and prohibition of en-
ployment Of boys at the mines under sixteen
years Of age All the operators voted against
the motion. H \. Taylor, of the Illinois oper-
stors then moved that the wage scale Of 1909
be accepted for two years. provided the miners
agreed TO pay the expense caused by the shot
frers law in Illinois. This motion was defeated
by the unanimous vote Of both operators and
miners
F. l. Robbins. Of the Western Pennsylvania
operators. moved the adoption Of the 1903 scale
for two years, the operation Of the Illinois shot
drers law 10 remain at present. This was de-
feated 10y the operators Of Illinois, Indiana and
Ohio. The Western Pennsylvania operators and
the miners voted for it.
Earlier in the day the miners moved that the
Illinois shot irers law be regarded as a district
question TO be settled by the district but this
was defeated by the operators.
More than one thousand miners and four
hundred operators spent the day awaiting the
action Of the two committees Should these
committees finally disagree, sessions Of the joint
-oaferences Of the two districts viii be called
10 take up the fight IN open convention.
President Mitchell said that he had received
President BaeT'S letter and that he would call a
meeting Of the anthracite scale committee to act
on the offer of the operators 10 meet the miners.
Tho meeting probably viii be held tomorrow.
Kentucky miners and operators Will make an
effort 20 get together a scale OF their own.
4 joint conference Of operators and miners viii
.e neld IN Louisville on Tuesday afternoon.