Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1906-03-31

Indianapolis-The joint conference
OF the coal miners and operators Of
the central competitive district ad-
jOurned, with no apparent settlement
of their wage differences in prospect
A motion to continue the present
| scale for two years made by the Oper.
atOrs was defeated by the solid vote
Of the miners. An amendment to
President Mitchell's motion to restore
the scale of 1908, offered by f. L.
Robbins of the Pennsylvania operat-
ors, to make the restored schedule et-
fective for two years, was accepted by
Mr.. Mitchell, subject to ratification by
the national miners convention,
which will meet tomorrow morning to
consider the question. The 1908
scale would mean a 5.55 percent in
crease in wages.
This was the only action taken dur
ing the day The rest was argument,
during the course of which great earn
estness on the part of the miners and
both factions of the operators was
shown. President Mitchell charged
that many coal companies are owned
by railroads and the profit ON coal is
not indicated by the books of the coal
companies, as much of it is absorbed
by the railroads. He announced that
the miners would continue to ask for
more wages if the market justified,
and stated positively that the miners
would adhere to their demands for an
increase at this time.
r. r. Hammond of the Illinois oper-
ators said that the ramifcations of
the coal situation were so complicat-
ed that the public would never be able
to understand them until they had
been examined by commission and
SO far as was concerned he was will
ing to leave the differences to suoh q
| commission.
He said the operators profits were
not such as to warrant further in
crease and added: Il say frankly that
II you cannot convince me by argu-
ments you cannot convince me by
force. | will close my mines forever
rather than be forced to anything
against my judgment"
President Mitchell replied: "If Mr..
Hammond wants to close his coal
| cornDoniea Rs~~~,~~, t> lit 81
waiting when he wants to open them
again." This was loudly applauded
by the miners.
"The American people" said Mr..
Mitchell, 'are going to ask and insist
upon knowing why the operators can
not pay an advance of three cents a
ton. And we are going to ask you
why you can now charge the Ameri-
can people an advance of 81 ton and
not be able to pay us an advance Of
three cents ton. During the past
two weeks, the American people, and
do not mean the railroads, have been
compelled to pay at the mines more
than 81 a ton more for coal. Mr..
Hammond says he will show us the
books of the Deering Coal company.
| ask him If he will also let us see the
books of the Rock Island railroad COM
pany."
Continuing President Mitchell said:
1T seems to me that the time Is
rapidly approaching when some de-
cision should be reached. And | do
not think, and l know the miners do
not believe, that you, gentlemen, with
whom we have had these mutually ad-
vantageous relations, have done your
share to meet us in this grave crisis.
l have said, and repeat now, that so
long as am connected with the min
ers' organization, and so long as they
give to me and to my advice the same
confidence and the same respect that
year by year they have, If market con.
ditions justify us, we shall ask for
more and more wages. Two years
ago, when we officials of the miners,
not only advised and implored, but
fought them to a reduction, and when
the delegates refused we appealed
from their decision and went to ref
erendum vote of the miners, and what
we failed to do in the convention we
succeeded in having the miners vote
in favor of. And say to you, so far
as | am concerned, II there come to
our country conditions that justify 1t
l have no doubt but that the miners
will again accept their share of the
burdens"