The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-22
The Ideal Method.

As a result Of this conference and other sim
liar ones in the states Of the Mississippi river
and south OF the Ohio river 10000 mine work
ers receive an advance in their earnings aggre.
eating sl2,o0o,0O0 in one year, thus precluding
even the possibility Of a strike for one full
year, at the end Of which they will again meet
in joint conference to renew the contract and
make such changes in the wages paid are
justified and warranted by the cost OF production
and the values Of coal in the markets This
in my opinion, is the ideal method OF avert
ing strikes and turmoils, and securing for labor
and capital that share of the profits Of their
joint industry to which each is properly entitled
But because am aware that there Is serious,
IL misguided, repugnance on the part Of the
railroad carriers in the anthracite field TO rec.
ognize our organization or its officers, the mine
workers organization, whose chief officer have
the honor TO be, yielding all natural pride Of
having it treated with in this difficulty. repeat
what I have publicly and privately stated be.
fore, that and my official colleagues will not
ask to he recognized or consulted by the mine
owners II the officers representatives Of these
great railroad companies will do what they have
many times said they would do. meet commit.
tees OF their own employees and come TO peace.
ful agreement
A Proviso.
Provided, however, TINT such conferences be.
tween the various companies and committees
representing their own employees will meet in
separate halls in the same city and on the same
date. This provision is inserted because hereto.
fore, when committees presented grievances TO
any Of these great companies, they were invari-
ably met with the argument that the company
could not remedy the wrongs complained Of be-
cause competing companies enforced conditions
of employment not more favorable to the mine
workers than their own. BY holding these sep
arate conferences simultaneously in one city
there could he an exchange Of opinion between
all Of the mine owners and miners whose inter.
ests were at stake, thus removing the possibl.
ity Of one company being placed at a disad-
vantage by paying more for labor than was ex.
acted from their competitors.
We're they TO act upon this idea | firmly be.
lieve that the railroad companies could finally
arrive at agreement with their employees and
establish a relation and set UP precedent which
would make strikes almost impossible in the
future. Such action the part Of the nine
great railroads would of course deprive the Uni
ted Mine Workers of much Of the credit TO which
we believe it TO be Justly entitled, but we place
far above any consideration Of individual or.
ganization the question Of what shall be for
the good Of all anthracite workers, their wives
and their children in this supreme crisis.
These are my sincere expressions, and appeal
to an impartial and just public to Judge between
us and these nine railroad presidents IL they
shall refuse to meet in a spirit of fairness the
proposal of man whose chief object it is to
help tighten the weary burden OF a struggling,
earnest mass Of humanity.
(signedD John Mitchell,
President United Mine Workers OF America.