The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1906-03-22
MAY SOON COME
TO AGREEMENT
OPERATORS AND MINERS JOINT
SCALE COMMITTEE in SESSION.
SINGLE DISTRICT AGREEMENTS
Committee Holds Sessions Behind
Closed Doors-Thousnt that as
Last Resort L,iners viii Make
Single District Agreements.
scripps-McRae Telegram.

lHuldudpOltS, MdrCn zl.--0 -. H.
The joint scale committee may be in
session for several days before 1t is
ready to report to the joint confer
ence, 1t Is the general belief that an
increase in wages will be the chief
subject considered. This can now be
acac without any restriction BY the
Ryan resolution which declared for
agreements with all or none OF the
mining districts. Resolution from
the miners scale committee last week
which stated that the miners were
ready again to meet with the employ
ers makes it possible for action by
the scale committee in favor OF indi-
vidual district contracts. lnis resolu-
tion slipped through the convenuon
before many who had strongly oppos-
ed the Ryan resolution realized its
Importance. The provision for con-
tract by districts will not be resorted
to, however, until a contract covering
the entire field and acceptable to DOL.
parties seems to be entirely out OF
reach That the true meaning of the
resolution abrogating tne Ryan meas
ure was unknown to President Mitch
ell, Vice President Lewis and other
leaders OF the miners is not believed.
Their action in allowing 1t to pass un
protested is considered as significant
that contracts with districts singiy
may be as the final resort was agreea
on, and strike a.lecting the entire
country thus to be averted. The d.
rection in which Vice President Lew
is great power in the joint scale COM
mittee is to be thrown has not yet be-
come evident. Lewis refused TO say
whether he favors agreements by dis
| tricts.
Indianapolis, Ind, March 2l-Ths
second joint conference OF the coal
operators and miners OF the centrAf-
competitive district comprising the
states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and
western Pennsylvania, which Is the
result of the efforts OF President
Roosevelt to effect permanent peace
in the coal industry throughout the
United States. adjourned Tuesday af-
ternoon after referring the demands
of the miners to the joint scale COM
mittee, which will begin its delibera-
ton this morning at nine o'clock. The
conference was called to order by
President John Mitchell, Of the United
Mine Workers. The conference or
ganized at once by the election of the
following officers: George w. Traer,
an operator of Chicago, permanent
chairman; Secretary Treasurer, w. B.
Wilson, of the United Mine Workers
of America, permanent Secretary; as
sistant secretaries, Frank S. Brooks,
Columbus, Ohio, and C. l. Scroggs.
Chicago. On motion of President
Mitchell, the rules of the previous
Joint conference. requiring that the
vote of the operators on call main
and principal questions" be cast as a
unit, were adopted. This action en-
powers F. L. Robbins, retiring chair
man of the operators, and Thomas
Lewis, vice president of the United
Mine Workers to prevent any action
on the wage scale which they do not
favor.
Miners Scale Defeated.
President Mitchell, being recognized
by the chair, delivered brief address
In which he outlined his views as to
the purpose of the extraordinary
Joint conference, at the close of which
he moved the adoption of the scale
Of wages demanded by the miners in
the joint conference which adjourned
February 2. The scale provides for
an increase Of 12h per cent. The mo-
ton was lost on a strict vote, the op-
orators voting unanimously in the
negative. while the miners voted as a
unit In favor Of its adoption.
President Mitchell handed TO Chafr-
man Traer copy of the original
scale. On request of the operators,
the scale was read. 1t embodied de-
mand for general advance of 12h
per cent. In wages; for run-of-mine
basis: for a fat differential of seven
cents ton between pick and machine
mining; the exclusion of boys under
is years of age from the mines and
TOR an eight hour day. Chairman
Traer asked II anyone wished to dis
cuss and there was an impressive
silence. The vote showed the miners
solidly for adopting the scale and the
!, operators as firmly opposed to 1t.
Under the rule, that all questions of
this nature require a unanimous vote
the motion was lost.
i Operators Proposal Defeated.
John H. winder. of Ohio. the newly
elected chairman Of the operators,
prefxed the motion for the adoption
Of resolution by brief address in
: reply to the remarks of President
Mitchell. The resolution. which. pro-
, yided that the present wage scale with
! all attending conditions be adopted
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