Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-08
ILLINOIS OPERATORS BALK
Coal Producers Declare They Will Not Grant
Any Concessions to Miners.
DEMAND EQUALIZATION OF CONDITIONS
say Present Scale IL Not Fair to Their
state Because OF Passage
of shot Firers'

CHICAGO, March NO concessions viii
be made by the Illinois Coal Operators as
ISOLATION 10 the United Mine Workers This
was decided on today at an executive meet
ing of the operators. who adopted rcsolu-
tons declaring their willingness to face the
threatened strike April rather than grant
the demands OF the miners.
The meeting was called for the purpose of
considering n call made for a joint meeting
of the miners and operators for the states
Of Illinois. Indiana, Ohio. West Virginia
and western Pennsylvania at Indianapolis
March Is I'm an effort to make a second at
tempt in joint conference with the miners
to formulate a scale of wages and condl-
tons of labor for the year ending March
81, 1907.
Five Resolutions Adopted.
The resolutions follow:
First-We accept the invitation to the
indianapolis meeting, hut we are opposed to
any advance in wages and viii demand that
into practice in the four competitive states
Second-That the mining rate in Illinois
shall he so changed as to re-establish the
proper competitive interstate mining rate
which is now out of line by reason of the
shot firets' law. which became effective In
this state last July.
Third-That clause be inserted i'm the
contract that the operators I've Unidentified
by the miners for the loss sustained 10y
reason of mines being thrown idle in viola
were called In Illinois owing to the con-
troVersy over the shot firers' law.
Fourth-That should a contract he en-,
tered into at the indianapolis meeting said
contract shall contain a clause to the effect
That such contract Is based upon existing
mining laws. and should laws be enacted
during the term of the contract affecting
the operating cost of production the mining
rates shall be increased or decreased so as
to maintain the proper equity of such con-
tract during its existence.
Fifth-That. failing to secure such con
tract provisions at the proposed interstate
meeting, we will refuse to be party to
any agreement that may be made by the
convention.
Pittsburg Operators Meet Friday.
PITTSBURG, March 7.--ChairmaN Fran
els l.. Robbins of the Pittsburg Coal com
pany. who has represented the bituminous
coal operators at all wage scale confer
ences. has called a meeting in this city
next Friday OF the operators of the Pitts
burg district to decide what action they
will take at the general convention to be
held at indianapolis.
The result of the PittsburE meeting, it
is said, will practically determine the stand
to be taken by the operators of the btu
minous fields.
Miners Nominate Officers.
Nominations of officers for District No. ),
United Mine Workers, who are to be elected
at the special election ordered by the recent
convention here. were received by Secretary
Dodds today. The names of the nominees
will not be made public until March u, until
after the various local unions have been
notified.
President Patrick DOlau. Vice President
Uriah Bellingham and Secretary William
Dodds are not among the candidates. They
contend that the >election is illegal and
would not accept nominations.
Vice. President Bellingham says that fol-
lowing the special elections proceedings will
be entered into to have the election declared
invalid.