The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-04
Anthracite Scale Committee
of Miners and Operators
Meet in New York.
STRIKE LOOKS CERTAIN
SESSION WAS
FILLED WITH HEATED ARGU.
MENTS-ONLY MIRACLE CAN
PREVENT A BREAK.
TPublishers. Pressl


New York. April 3.-While rumors
that peace pact is to be arranged
between the anthracite scale com.
mittee of the United Mine Workers
of America and the operators of the
big hard coal properties were widely
circulated following today's meeting.
they are based entirely on the fact
that instead of negotiations being
broken of another meeting has been
arranged for Thursday afternoon.
The proceedings at today's meet.
ing, according to one of those who
was there, were of distinctly infor-
NAL character. E. B. lnomas. of the
Lehigh Valley. acted as chairman and
John Mitchell. on behalf OF the min
ers. made lengthy argument as to
why the demands Of the miners
should be granted. He quoted at
length from the wage scale now In
effect. declaring that after the pres
ent market price coal is considered
the cost Of production according to
the operators own figures and the
fact that nearly all the men average
q
hardly be any good reason why the
men should not receive a substantial
advance in wages. He discussed the
contract miners situation at great
length, citing statistics to show that
the contract miners should receive
the 10 per cent advance In wages
above the rates provided Tor In the
q uyo rd af he ryf - t~yrr
mission.
Mitchell Wakes Eloquent.
Mr.. Mitchell waxcd eloquent, 1t Is
reported In discussing the question
of the eight hour work day. declaring
that II it was granted ne felt certain
the operators would never regret 1t
as It would increase their efficiency
to great extent He declared that
the operators owed great deal to
the union as 1t was because of the at
titude of the organization that the
personnel of the employees In the an
thracite workings had been raised to
its present high standing.
He cited the recent figures made
public by the miners indicating that
to grant the demands OF the miners
would increase the cost of coal at
least $1.20 per ton and questioned
their accuracy. He claimed that there
was no reason why the minor in.
crease asked by his fellow workmen
should increase the cost any consid.
cradle amount and further stated that
he believed 1t would be possible for
the operators to grant the advance
and still sell coal to the public at the
ruling figures.
President Nichols Spoke.
Following Mr.. Mitchell, District
President Nichols made an argument
along similar lines, he going especial
ly in to the abuses that the con-
tract miners now have to contend
with. He claimed that contract min
ers and their assistants are often re-
quired by the company to perform
company work and that they lose
money thereby, the amount they be-
ing paid only taking care of the time
they are actually employed, while ac-
cordfng to Mr.. Nichols, they are at
times. kept waiting at the conve-
nience OF other employees He also
quoted statistics which he claimed
showed that under the present sys-
tenn the contract miners in the an
thracite filed are receiving less than
when their work is taken into consid-
Grafton than are the miners of the
bituminous fields.
A friendly discussion then follow.
ed which became general In It's ma
ture and at 2:40 after session last
ing one hour and forty minutes an
adjournment was taken on motion OF
Mr.. Mitchell until Thursday afternoon
at 1 o'clock.
MIR. 1aer's Statement.
When Mr.. Baer, who is decidedly
the leading spirit in the operators ar
rangements left the meeting, he was
asked for statement and said:
I'VE exchanged views freely. the
miners doing most OF the talking.
There will be another meeting Thurs
day. am not prophet and cannot
forecast what the final result will be,
but matters are now in the same
condition as they were a month ago"
Men who are In close touch with
the situation say tonight that only
miracle can prevent a break on
Thursday and the general belief is
that today's adjournment only deferS
the final parting Of the way.