Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1906-02-08
MINERS STAND
FOR Increase
Operators Determined to
Fight Out Battle.
NO HOPE OF AVERTING
A GIGANTIC STRIKE.
April I Will See $4,000 Men
Walk Out of Mines In
This Country.

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2-The joint
conference of the operators and miners
of both the central competitive and
southwest districts adjourned today
sine die, without an agreement on a
wage scale The adjournment was
Immediately followed by a call for a
meeting of the national convention of
the United Mine Workers of America
for O clock.
Motion was made by F. L. Robbins,
the spokesman for the operators, that
the present wage scale be continued.
Patrick Dolan, president of the
Pennsylvania miners, contrary to in
structions, voted his state for the pro-
position, and caused an up-roar among
the miners; and his right to vote thus
was challenged by the other Pennsyl-
vania miners, but on appeal to the
chair his vote was so recorded.
F. L. Robbins then took the floor He
said he wanted to go on record as it
seemed the future of the interstate
movement was in peril. Mr.. Robbins
reviewed the difference in the condi-
ton of the miners now and when the
Interstate joint conference movement
went into effect. 'You have advanc-
ed wages and shortened hours" said
he without argument, and in the
face of all fairness, you yesterday met
and repudiated fair proposition. l
want to go on record as protesting
against such methods. Yesterday coal
sold in Chicago at 81 ton carrying an
80-cent freight rate, because the rail
roads were demanding the cars, and
yet you refuse to allow one district to
sign an agreement unless all sign.
''We propose to deal with our min
ers even-handed, with the same repre-
sentation on each side. We don't pro-
pose to have the miners of other states,
with conditions entirely different from
ours, dictate as to the settlement of
our affairs in our district. Your pro-
position adopted yesterday is absurd.
A little section up in Michigan could
refuse a settlement and tie up the
whole country. You have conference
with the anthracite operators coming.
If were an anthracite operator
would refuese to deal with you.
President Mitchell took the floor il
reply. Said he: 1T is kind of Mr..
Robbins to say that we have presented
no argument. We refuse to allow the
operators to have the final say as tt
whether we have presented any argu
ment or not. We have shown thai
coal is selling at the mines from 3;
cents to 80 cents a ton higher than i
was selling seven months ago. w
showed this by their own circulars
We have shown by their own circular
that the condition Of the iron trade il
highly prosperous. The country is IL
the highest degree of prosperity
Stocks and bonds are selling highe
than ever before. And yet, notwith
standing this situation, we are asked
to continue lower wage scale than w
had two years ago. And Mr.. Robin
will remember that two years ago
when we accepted a lower wage seal
on account of an unfortunate situtatiol
existing at that time, he promised tina
the reduction would be restored at tn
next conference"
Mr. Penna, an Indiana operator, ar
gued the wage question from figure
on the production and selling price Q
coal The production of Indiana coal
he said, had decreased from to 9 pc
cent. during the past year. ''If thi
institution has to break up" he said
land it has come to the point that on
party must control the coal mines c
this country, that party will be th
party that owns the property. The1
will be hardships, but the owners {
property must control it. - Mr.. Lew
is, answering charges made by f.
Robbins that the action taken by tn
miners convention yesterday that n
district should sign until all signed
was an unlawful combination, saiC
I'VE own and control our labor an
we have the right to sell it individual
ly or collectively to the highest biz
der. "
j, H. Winder, an Ohio operator, sal
he admitted the prosperity of the coul
try, but he denied the prosperity of Il
coal industry in the central compel
tive district.
W. n. Taylor, of Illinois, elaine
that an entrance of capital into Il
coal business had caused an over pr
duction that had seriously affected ii
interests of the operators and miner
Il do not believe with Mr.. Mitchell
said he, that this is the parting.
believe that you men have sense enoul
to believe us when we come to "
with the facts. You don't want
destroy this interstate agreement al
go back eight years. 1t takes loI
time to built up such an institution
this movement for joint conference
When conditions warrant we will gi
You increased wages. and we will do
gladly, but the time has not come, al
we cannot do il now.
The proposition Of the operators W
voted ON, with the result before me
toned Mr., Robbins questioning I
right of the chair 10 announce the I
suit. claiming the miners had &
right to vote by states. TO which Pr,
ident Mitchell replied saying: ct
miners organization has indorsed {
report OF the scale committee, viii