Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1910 — T. L. LEWIS PRESIDES [ARTICLE]

T. L. LEWIS PRESIDES

Chosen as Temporary Chairman of Joint Scale Conference. Mayor Whitlock Delivers Address of Welcome —Credentials Committee Is Deadlocked. Toledo, 0., Feb. 4. —The joint scale conference of the miners and operators of the central competitive field, comprising western Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois, met here. President Lewis of the miners, was chosen temporary chairman. After the appointment of a committee on credentials and rules and order of business, President Lewis introduced Mayor Whitlock, who welcomed the delegates to the city. In his response, President Lewis spoke encouragingly of the operators’ side of the coal industry. He said the operators had to fight the railroads and legislators and tnat he hoped for the day when the operators would say to the railroads that they must pay a fair price for the coal they use sb that the operators could pay the miners more money and properly safeguard this hazardous occupatoin. The credential committee is hopelessly deadlocked on the question as to whether to allow the Illinois miners a seat in the conference inasmuch as the Illinois operators are not here