The Washington times., 1906-03-18
MINERS FORPEACE,
WHILE OPERATORS
ARE BELL|GERENT
Danger Increases as the
Hour for Conference
Draws Near.
A STRIKE SEEMS LIKELY
Robbins Alone CounSeIs Con
CeSsiOn to Avoid Bitter
Strife.
A STRIKE SEEMS LIKELY

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. March IL
The definite plans of the leaders or the
mine workers. including President
Mitchell, were ascertained tonight. II
there is to be a strike. the miners Will
make the operators take the response
bility for II. In other words. there will
the miners can help it.
In the anthracite fields il will be a
different proposition But in the bltu-
mlnous fields the miners now have the
best OF it. The operators are here, some
OF them, and those that are yet to come
are coming for war. With the excep-
ton OF Robbins and a few OF his friends.
the operators have blood IN their
eyes" The miners have seized their
opportunity. With the operators resoiv-
ing and almost swearing that they viii
not bulge and even that they will not
meet the miners. the latter have peace
fully and quietly, with the ayowed in
tention OF promoting a peace between
the two forces. abrogated the Ryan
resolution and voted to meet the opera
tors IN joint conference Monday. This
leaves the operators as the ones out
for fight.
Miners Want Peace.
Two things are certain. The miners
want peace. They also want longtime
contract. The conservative forces
among the miners have agreed that it
is not best for the organization that the
public be brought TO the edge or a great
hnfd
sever al months with threats that it will
be th--EJn over.
The operators VIII not object 20 a
longtime contract-in fact. they want Il,
and the miners viii ''accede'' TO their
desire IN this particular. but it will
be I'D 10 the operators TO make one or
two concessions.
Between 500 and 600 bituminous coal
operators will be in the city by tomor-
row night. and the hRht Between Rob
bins and his supporters and the stand
pat~ faction, which seems to be greatly
in the majority will begin. This vii
be carried on behind closed doors. wtsn
the oPe--eters' conference is called 60
order IN the Claypool Hotel auditcGun
Monday morning.
Operators Are Arriving.
]. NJ. Roam. general manager OF the
! Great Sunday Creek mining property
! in Ohio arrived in the city today in
advance Of $50 Ohio operators. Herman
| JUST and the Illinois operators will be
here tonight or tomorrow morning. With
that delegation will come ex-President
! o. L. Garrison. OF the Illinois operators
who. with President ]. c. Kolsem. OF
the Indiana operators. will probably
lead the "stand pat" forces in the con-
ference. Harry Taylor, the Illinois
| operator who has been associated with
F. L. Robbins in the peace movement
has engaged his room from Monday
morning. and may not arrive before that
time. President Perry, OF the South
western operators; Bennett Brown. their
commissioner. and most OF the Texas
Kansas. Indian Territory. Arkansas. and
Missouri operators viii arrive in the city
tomorrow afternoon. The Indiana oper-
ators will be here tomorrow.
i Representatives Of railroad companie.
i and OF large consumers are already ar.
irving IN droves. They wish 10 kseI
In close touch with the situation in or.
der to send out a warning to their com.
panies If a strike is to be the result
The situation at this time seems TO b.
very threatening Though the miners
are apparently ready to meet the oper
ators on the basis of compromise, tht
operators are so thoroughly split thai
no one can predict what will be theil
attitude in the joint conference. though
there ara unmistakable indications tha
some of the opposition 20 the peace pla1
will disappear Whether those who ar,
really intent on turning down Robbins
and his plan. and who really wish {
strike. will succeed in their plans, il
not at this time known by anyone.
won,an's Suffrage Indorsed.
In convention today the mine worker
indorsed woman's suffrage. Harrie
Taylor Upton, In a 'Atter to the con
vention. asked that woman's suffrage b.
indorsed. The convention by practical
ly unanimous vote so placed itself OF
record
A communication from members o
the Seelyville local union asked tn
|. delegates for financial aid for the searcl
, OF Richie Biers, the son of Dr. Biers
President Mitchell briefly related tn
story of the disappearance Of the boy
, Indications are that many miners vii
contribute to the search fund
A resolution declaring for the Govern
ment ownership of mines was non
| concurred in by the convention.
Delegate Frank J. Hay, a prominen
Socialist, OF Illinois, moved that tn
convention give 5000 to be used In tn
defense of President Meyer, Secretary
Treasurer Haywood and Pettibone. o
the Western Federation Of Miners. VIII
are now under arrest in Idaho on tn
charge OF numbering Governor Steunen
berg OF that State
$1,000 Voted to westerners.
Vice President T. L. Lewis, denounc
ing the methods employed in the arres
: | III - -