The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-29
HOT DEBATE IN
THE CONFERENCE
Coal Miners and Operators Do
Not Mince Words in
Talking.
C0LLUSl0N WITH ROADS
lNTIMATED BY MITCHELL,
Mine Owners Say They Will
Close Down Before
Yielding.

INDIANAPOLIS. March 2.-The Joint
conference of the bituminous coal opera
tors and miners of the central competitive
district met today in what was generally
understood TO be q final effort to reach an
agreement on the wage scale in Illinois,
Indiana, Chic and western Pennsylvania.
since the adjournment yesterday no
move haS been made by either side and
the deadlock apparently was as lirm as at
any previous time. There were no indi-
cations that strike could be avcrted
Asks for Old Scale.
G.. w Trner, chairman, announced
that the question was on the sub-motion
offered by ]. II Winder to reaffirm the
present wage scale with conditions as
they existed when that scale was adopt
ed the miners 10 pay the cost of mining.
loading. shooting and umbering
A J, Moorchead OF Illinois spoke first
for the operators. He said the operators
would be pleased TO pay the miners an
increase In wages. but IL was absolutely
impossible at this time.
Miners in Advantage.
You miners" said he, have the ad-
vantage over us You can combine and
centraIize your voting power upon fixed
object or desired action. But II the op-
orators combine We are threatened with
coal market and pay you higher wages
If we could buy uD all the coal mines,
but unfortunately FOR you and us we have
not the money TO do IL,
1T may be true that in some parts of
the country, western Pennsylvania, for
instance, they may be able to pay an
advance. but l do know tha: In Illinois
II is impossible
He said miners In the thick vein in Ill
nos could earn from 50 TO $40 day.
Makes Them Laugh.
This statement was received with laugh
ter by the miners, which brought a re
bukc from the chair
rot able to do the best he can for him
self and his family He has been restrict.
ed and prevented from realizing his fun
$50 a month. The miners In my district
are permitted TO work only five or six
hours a dny
Would Stand Alone.
1--WE in Illinois believe the time has
come TO sever this Interstate agreement
our affairs had better be settled alone.
| We had better work single-handed than
be In an Interstate convention. The gen
tlemen from Pennsylvania and Ohio have
different market conditions, 3llleremt Csi ilt
| in Illinois. Their wants arc rarely our
wants. Their troubles are rarely our
! troubles.
| John II Walker. miners delegate
| from Illinois. discussing conditions In that
| State. assumed that they warranted an
| advance In wages.
! r II. Hammond OF tue lllluplS obSA u
| tors. was willing to leave the differences
| to 4 commission
Will Not Be Forced.
II will close my mines forever rather
| than be forced TO do anything against my
! Judgment" Mr.. Hammond concluded.
President Mitchell replied to MI HAM
| mond: -
! "If Mr. Hammond wishes TO close MS
! coal mines forever he viii ind US walt
! Ing when he wants TO open them again
This statement was loudly applauded oy
| the miners.
Coal Has Advanced,
THE American people" said Mr..
| Mitchell, "are going TO ask and insist
unoa knowing why the operators cannot
| nav an advance OF three cents ton And
we arc going to ask you why you can
| charge the American people nm advance
| ~ Fl per ton and not be able TO pay US
an advance Of three cents ton. During
| tho past TWO weeks the American Peo-
nIc tond l do not mean the I5llroausl
! have been compelled TO pay at the mines
| NOR. than one dollar a ton more LOT coal.
| Mr. Hammond says he Will show us the
hooks of the Dcering Coal company.
ask him II he VIII also let us see the
hooks OF the Rock Island Railroad com
| pany2'