The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-04-29
THE MINER.
THE ARBITRATION QUESTION:.

The Board of Arbitration appointed blythe
operators and miners Of the anthracite coal
regions, assembled on Monday the 18th
inst at Mauch Chunk, Pa, with Geo. w.
Cole, of Tamaqua, (operator) as President,
Jas. Kealy, as Vice President, A. Reese
and G. z. Owen, Secretaries. There
were present: operators, SchuylkiIl--Wm.
Kendrick, E Borda, G. w. Cole. g. P.
Owen. Luzerne-A. Bardee and c. Par
ISL Cs-bon-E w. CLARK, and F. Rob
inson. Northumberland Thomas Baum
gardner, and Henry Guiterman. Miners
John S.ney, George Corbett, James Ry-
on, John j. Williams, A. Reese, John
Wallis, John Foley, c. I. McHugh, and
James Kealy.
Messrs. Beatch and johnson we're ap-
pointed permanent ec,etaries. Judge VIM.
Elwell, Presiding Judge Of Columbians
Co. G. (Pa.) District, was elected and &C
cepted the position OF umpire.
Contrary to public expectations no set
Element Of the wages question was arrived
at, several Of the miners and operators de-
claring that they were not empowered to
treat on that subject.
At the last day Of the session Mr. Kealy
offered the following agreement, which was
objected to and withdrawn.
Ii agreed that if any man be discharged
from Colliery for what be may deem in
sufficient or unjust reasons be shall com
plain to bis Branch which shall sppon. a
committee of three to wait upon the opera
TOR or boss who discharged said member and
ask his reasons for having discharged him.
The Branch shall then decide which is in
the right But no suspension shall take
place unless two-thirds Of the members Of
the Branch are satisfied, nor shall any sus
pension be ordered pending the investiga-
tion herein provided for.
The Umpire said that be had deemed it
unnecessary and unwise to prepare an elab-
crate report. He had endeavored to meet,
specifically. the points at issue. The deci-
sion is as follows:
The Umpire to whom was referred Ger
tain points in reference to control of col
lieries upon which points arbitrator here
present, chosen respectively by operators
and miners, have failed to agree, makes the
following report:
FIRsT-1'he right Of ar owner or lessee
and 0Derafo Of eollier7 "a tSe entire and
exclusive control and management of bis
works, is guaranteed to him BY the law Of
the land, and is Of such an unquestiOnabe
character that it ought not to be interfered
with either directly or directly.
SEcoND.-The Umpire concurs with and
adopts as a correct statement Of the law
that part OF the late proclamation Of the
Executive of this Commonwealth, wherein
he says that 1T is unlawful for any person
or association Of persons, by violence
threats or other coerciye means, to prevent
any laborers or miners from working wher
they please, for whom they please, and al
such wages ss they p'ease, and alike unlaW
full. by such violence or threats to detel
or prevent the owners or operators OF mine'
from employing wbomsoever they may
choose to employ, and at such wages as may
be agreed upon between he employer aDC
person employed"
THIRD-It is the undoubted -ight o
men TO refuse to work except upon snct
terms as shall be agreeable to them; bat Z
general understanding that no person Of 1
particular association of laborers shall worl
for any operator who has in bis employ .
member Of such association who has MOI
paid bis dues to the association, or who does
not belong to such association, is contrary
to the policy Of the law, and subversive o.
the best interests of the miners aud theil
employers An association may iDfiiet fne'
upon its members for breach Of By Laws
and expel for non-payment, but it has nc
right by combined action to place the de