The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1906-03-29
THEY REPORTED
A DISAGREEMENT
SCALE QUESTION NOW BEFORE
THE JOINT CONFERENCE.
Both SIDES STANDING PAT
Unless some Understanding IL
Reached ny Saturday a Quarter
Of n Million Bituminous
Miners VIII strike.


indianapolis, Ind, March 2S--The
Joint scale committee of the United
Mine Workers and the bituminous
coal operators of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
and western Pennsylvania, Tuesday, re-
ported disagreement to the joint con-
ference of the central competitive dis
trict, and after a session Of three hours
the conference adjourned, to meet this
morning at nine o'clock. The discus
sions and arguments presented during
the afternoon by the representatives OF
the miners and operators showed no
change whatever in the situation and
indicate that the opposing sides are no
nearer a wage agreement than they
were In January, when the first confer
ence was held. The present wage scale
will expire Saturday, and unless an
agreement is reached before its expira-
ton, 225,O00 miners in the four states
will be called from the mines
Mitchell Opened the Discussion.
President Mitchell of the miners
opened the discussion in the joint con-
ference after there had been a silence
OF ten minutes, during which each side
was waiting for the other to make the
first move. In brief speech he said
II had been his expectation that some
proposition looking to an adjustment
Of the differences would be submitted
by the operators at the afternoon ses-
sion, but it was evident they had not
been able to agree among themselves.
The miners OF the joint conference, he
said, had even exceeded their powers
to meet the grave responsibilities placed
upon them, mot only as miners. but
as countrymen and citizens, by the re-
quest and the suggestions of the presi-
dent Of our country. And 1t will be-
come evident from the votes represent
ed here that at least four states must
and rlghtfully shall assume the respon-
sibility for disagreement, If no settle
ment is reached"
Motion BY Mr.. Mitchell.
Mr. Mitchell then offered for the con-
sideration of the convention a motion
that, as basis of settlement, there be
restoration of the scale, the mining
scale and the dead work scale Of 1908.
]. II. Winder, chairman of the OPP
orators, offered as a substitute motion
to adopt the present scale with all con-
ditions existing at the time Of its adop-
ton, with the mining rate at Danville,
Ill, for base, and to include all cost
of shooting, loading. timbering and ;nr
spection Of shots.
The Various Speakers.
Speeches were made for the operators
by ]. c. Kolsem and Phil Penna, of In
diana; H. ~ Taylor, of Illinois, and H.
L. Chapman. of Ohio, all expressing the
determination of the operators of those
states to oppose any increase in wages
and to refuse to pay an advance. For
the miners, President John Mitchell,
Vice President T. l.. JEWS and Secre-
tary w b. Wilson of the national or
sanization, together with President
II G. Perry, OF the Illinois miners;
President VIM. Green of the Ohio min
ers and President Wellington O'Connor
of the Indiana miners, expressed the
determination of the miners to insist
upon their demands for the restoration
of the wage scale of 1908. which is an
increase of 5.55 per cent
Mr. F. L. Robbins, of the western
Pennsylvania operators, who favors the
payment Of the increase demanded by
the miners, did not speak during the
afternoon.
An Arbitration suggestion.
Mr.. Phil Penna, of the Indiana op-
orators, suggested the settlement of the
differences by arbitration. On this sub
ject he said: 1.-THE coal operators for
whom am talking have done business
In Joint scale committees for 20 con-
secutlve years. They have favored
peace at all times, and favor peace now
with honor. Rather than resort to an
industrial strike, as far as Indiana is
concerned, we may have other things
to suggest and we hope there may be
other things available to prevent any
such thing i don't know what might
be done or how we may avoid this in
dustrial conflict unless, perhaps, when
we can not agree the people would in
terfere; or 1t might be the American
people, through the president, as has
been done before don't know of any
good reason why we could not avert a
calamity by some such means at this
time or in the near future One thing
| is s,ire .fha American naOnle are not