Evening journal., 1900-10-15
Some Operators Oppose Every
thing But The Ten Per Cent.
Increase in Wages
STRIKERS AWAIT THE RESULT
United Nine Workers Say Lines Will
Remain UnbrOkCa Until Settle
Rent Of Strike

Scranton, Pa, Oct 15.-IR response
TO a request for a statement as his
views on the answer OF the United
Mine Workers to the operators propo-
sition T.. Il. Watkins, president Of the
Temple Iron company, gave out the
following;
I'VE will give our men reasonable
time to return to work. trusting that
they will see the mistake Of being
guided and influenced by men who,
however honest and sincere they may
be in their efforts to benefit the min
ers of the anthracite region, are un-
able to advise them intelligently and
for their best good. because of their ig
norance OF the conditions controlling
the trade.
"Mr. Mitchell apparently thinks that
the control of the mining operations
rests in the hands Of one or two per-
sons. notably Mr. Morgan, or that
there IS a trust of some sort which
can decide the whole question, when,
as a matter of act, there are only three
or four of the transportation companies
in which any one concern has any in
nuence, and they do not represent 80
per cent of the whole anthracite tom
] lAaEEs AlUAE luAAA Il LMluA GU 0lAANA
companies and individuals are inter-
ested in mining the total tonnage, and
no one man can control or have the
slightest influence over their action.
"The one thing the companies are
apparently agreed upon, and that is
that they will not agree. Efforts have
been made for years to get some plan
to which all could agree, to control the
tonnage, so that fair prices could be
secured for n product which requires
so large an Investment Of money with
such a risk to the labor employed as
well as the capital employed, but ef-
fort after effort has failed through fail
ure to agree on a plan that would not
violate the laws, and TO which all
would agree.
"But Mr.. Mitchell comes here and
says In effect: No matter how we'll
you may treat your employees or how
much you pay them or what agree
ments you have with them your men
must not go to work until every oper-
ator does just exactly what the other
one does, and that the Lehigh and
Schuylkill men must have new basis
before the men in the Lackawanna and
Wyoming regions can go to work
There are some individual Oper-
ators and some companies who will
lose their last dollar before they will
enter into any arrangement with other
operators or will join in an arrange
ment to recognize the union by agree
ing to any arrangement Mr.. Mitchell's
| organization dictates for q settlement
of the strike.
"The leaders Of the organization,
trust, will soon see their mistake in
insisting upon any further action by
the companies, and order the strike off.
The companies and operators have
given an advance they cannot afford
unless they are able TO get a better
price for coal. Having given in, they
will all be compelled to make an ear
nest effort 10 secure better prices, and
without q doubt. after the restriction
caused by the strike, can get better
prices for some time to come, certainly
until after April J., in my opinion, so
that the suspicion that the advance is
only given to be taken back after the
election is unfair and unwise.
1.-The United Mine Workers will lay
themselves open, if they have not al
ready done so, TO the charge Of being
the largest and most dangerous trust
to the public welfare that has ever
existed, and the organization viii make
the mistake Of all others that have
failed, By going too far and using its
power to hurt the public, as well as
those directly interested.
IT is time the men who want e
work and earn a livelihood without be-
ing compelled to join a union has a
chance, and the American spirit OF
fair play once more observed"
Before giving out the statement Mr.
! Watkins submitted it TO various oper'
ators, among them superintendent Lath'
y rope, of the Lehigh Valley Coal com
= pany, at Wilkesbarre, and it received
unanimous approval The fact that J
s p. Morgan & Co. are allied with tho
v Temple Iron company and that Mr.
|. Watkins and Mr.. Lathrope are chair
= men of the operators committees il
their respective territories, gives adde'
Importance to the statement.
p A conference Of the operators is q
take place this afternoon in the ofiicl
= of the Temple Iron company. 1t is a
fCsontfn1led ON Cacond Paoan