Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-03
WHOLE CENTRAL. COAL PRODUCE
ING DISTRICT MAY BE IN
voLvED
MINERS WANT ADVANCE
Their President, John Mitchell, De.
clares That They Must Have Their
Share of the General Prosperity
Joint Scale Committee Adjourns
Without Agreement.

!
joint scale committee of the central
1t was decided to report disagree
ment to the joint conference which
was called at 2 o'clock Before the
committee adjourned the operators
submitted final proposition, which
was to continue the present scale
with it's present conditions The min
ers rejected the proposition unani.
mously.
The operators of the southwest dis
trict in caucus agreed to submit the
matter OF new wage agreement to
arbitration. The miners are consid-
Iering the proposition.
Negotiations between the miners
and operators of the central COMPETE
tive district reached crisis at, the
close of yesterdays session. After
long hours of fruitless discussion John
Mitchell, president of the minegs de-
livered his ultimatum. He declared
emphatically to the operators that
either they must grant an increase in
the wage scale or the present nego
tations would fail. This, shorn of all
diplomatic language, means there is
a possibility OIL d SLTlke.
FL Robbins of Pittsburg speaking
for the operators, declared, however
that the operators stood positively and
determinedly against any advance
whatever The operators of the south
west district united with the operat
ors of the central district in caucus
and both agreed to stand by the pc
sition taken by Mr.. Robbins.
No Advance, Declare Owners.
1--WE will not grant one mill ton
advance directly or indirectly" said
an operator after the meeting.
There was apparent last night
/ feeling that the scale committee would
: report disagreement probably tomor
row and that subscale committee
would make the same report, follow
ing which the joint conference might
: adjourn until about March 1. The ad
: journment took place today.
President Mitchell in his ultimatun
: did not mention any percentage OF in
crease. 1t is generally recognized
that his statement is backed by the
8 almost unanimous sentiment Of the
Q miners delegates and that the mini
mum increase that would be accepted
G WlluOuI SIIuSSlS Will ,Dc o.oo PSI
. cent, which was the amount of the de
t crease in wages<two years ago.
Speaks for Southwestern Men.
= President Mitchell also made dec
+ laration to the joint scale COMMITTEES
: from the southwestern district. Mr.
Mitchell declared that SO far as hi
: influence extended with the miners
$ union and so long as he could proven
: it the standard of conditions enjoyed
by the miners at present would neve
!. be lowered. He called attention, t,
!. the general prosperity of the country
: why shouldn't the miners enjoy thei
} share of this prosperity 2" he asked.
The operators offer to grant the run
0 of-mine basis in Illinois, Danville be
: ing the basing point, and the price TO
plck-mining So cents ton. This ma
f. be refused by the miners.
e Printers Out at Boston.
, Boston, Mass, Feb. IA strike wa
5, declared today by the book and jo
n printers against all firms that hav
not acceded to the demands Of. tn
:. Typographical union for the eight hou
r day. 1t is estimated that 200 journe.