COAL - Clpdigital.org

36 THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN.
in a certain measure of forgetfulness when the
party was overdue.
Hon. James P. Walsh actually seemed to be
angry for just a moment. It was when he discovered
that the "dinge" string orchestra had
taken two hours for lunch. He discharged the
outfit and just 60 seconds later was stepping off
a lively rag-time, the orchestra busy on the job
again.
*
Fred Saal, sales agent of Pittsburghcoal at Cleveland,
was the only conspicuous member of the
3-a-m's of Thursday morning who boarded the
Island Queen looking fresh as a morning glory
and for all the world as though he had just
corralled a fat contract.
*
Fred Now, who does things as purchasing agent
of the big company, lent his benign presence without
a whit of perturbation regardless. His closest
friends were wise, however, tnat he was secretly
bemoaning the absence of the pin and newspaper
game.
The stewardship of John Armstrong of Rivercoal
was just all the mustard. John's big fine
personality and hearty manner whetted many a
dyspeptic's appetite which had failed to respond
to the tramp through Homestead mills.
*
Mercury was a leaden-footed wooden Indian as
compared to Harry McMahon who circulated about
the boat as if on wings, acting as aid-de-camp and
orderly sergeant to everybody and seeing that
every guest was properly entertained.
*
Walter Phillips wore that comforting smile
throughout with suspicious uniformity. It may
have broadened a bit when he had cleaned out the
only game.
*
Ask the general manager of sales about Lucy,
the mule who refused to be comforted after the
party returned to Pittsburgh from the Moon Run
mine.
*
S. W. Stickney of the D. J. Stickney Co.. Buffalo,
N. Y., declares that he is small fry in the trade
regardless of the big name. Don't believe him.
*
George H. Mitchell, secretary of the association,
lived up to his reputation as one of the broadgauged
men of the trade.
*
Somebody was heard to say that this Pittsburgh
Coal Co. is nearly as hot at entertaining as is its
coal.
President William F. Endress of the association
maintained his masterful dignity to the finish.
*
Anything you don't understand, write us, enclosing
that two for the overdue subscription.
ILLINOIS COAL MINES WILL
SUSPEND OPERATIONS TO-DAY.
Practically all the coal mines in Illinois, with
the exception of a few "longwall" mines in the
northern part of the state, will suspend operations
to-day as a result of the action on the shot firers'
law taken by the Illinois Coal Operators' Association
at the meeting held at Springfield on June
20. This action is embodied in the following resolution
which was passed by a unanimous vote:
WHEREAS, the coal miners of Illinois have secured
the enactment of a law providing for the
employment of shot firers and examiners in the
production of coal, which law prevents further
compliance by them with the terms of the contract
between them and the Illinois Coal Operators'
Association, which contract otherwise would
be effective until April 1, 1908. and which, therefore,
abrogates said contract; and
WHEREAS, said law adds to the cost of mining
coal, throwing the different sections of the state
out oi their competitive relationship, and the
entire state out of competitive relationship with
the other states in the interstate movement, contrary
to tne provisions of the contract; and
WHEREAS, when said law was pending as a bill
in the legislature it was opposed by the operators
in the belief that it would increase rather
than diminish both fatal and non-fatal accidents
in the mines of Illinois, and further because it
would cause the abrogation of the existing contracts,
inasmuch as it would require the coal
mine operators to segregate the work of the
miner and hire special men to do a part of the
work in uie production of the coal that the miner
is paid for in the contract mining price, and inasmuch
as it would also divide the responsibility
and compel the operator to assume certain liabilities
heretofore assumed by the miner and
upon which the present agreements are based;
now. therefore, be it
Resolved, that the Illinois Coal Operators'
Association, in meeting assembled, this day, June
20;, 1905, declares that all its members
must abide by the letter and spirit of said law
in absolute good faith: and be it further
Resolved, that since said contract, through
such action of the miners, ceases to exist June
30, 1905, the mining of coal throughout the state