The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-30
WILL Be NO STRIKE
COAL MINERS TROUBLE ADJUSTED
FOR THE PRESENT.
TO CONTINUE ANOTHER YEAR.
LENGTHY STATEMENT ISSUED BY
THE COMMITTEE.

Says There Was n Conference With
Representatives of Coal Operators
i'm Which Some Slight Concessions
Were Made - Miners Advised to
Abide by the Terms-A Graceful
Backdown on President MitchelIs
Part, Say the Coal MaEnates.
Father Phillips Is Happy
Wilkesbarre, Pa, March 29.-The
threatened strike of 14S, 600 miners in the
hard-coal region will not take place. At
a meeting of the Executive Committee of
the United Mine Workers of the three an
thracite districts held in this city to-day
it was decided that the men should con-
| tinue a work
This committee was given arbitrary
power by the general convention of miners
held at Hazleton in the fore part of the
month to declare strike if the circum-
| stances warranted it. In the opinion of
| the committee in a lengthy address issued
this evening, and which was prepared by
Mr.. Mitchell himself, the circumstances
did not warrant strike at this time.
Some members of the committee, so 1t
is said were in favor of pursuing a rad
ical course on the ground that if the
| operators did not recognize the miners
| union now the opportunity would be lost
! forever. President Mitchell, however,
| soon convinced the committee that con-
| servative course was the only one to pur-
| sue at this time.
number of coal operators, when
| shown the statement issued by the COM
| mittee, said it was a graceful backdown
m fah hIIt
president of the mine workers credit for
his conservative policy. 1t is conceded
| that had he so desired he could have
made great deal of trouble.
| On the whole, the miners are well pleas
| ed with the action of the committee. The
| happiest man in town tonight is Rev. E.
! S. Phillips, the Hazleton priest, who did
so much to bring about a peaceful set
tlement of the differences between the
operators and miners. He said:
"Well, there is everything to be thank
| full for, a strike would have meant much
misery to all classes
The Committees Statement.
wilkesbarre, Pa, March 29.-The gen.
| eral committee issued the following state
ment tonight:
''Wilkesbarre, Pa, March 29-Miners
| and Mine Workers of the Anthracite Re-
| gion, Gentlemen-Pursuant to the instruc-
|
| at the Hazleton convention, your commit
tee, consisting of national and district
| officers, have made every possible effort
| to arrange a joint conference of operators
and miners prior to April 1, 1901. The
resolution provided that full power was
vested in the executive board the district
and national officers to determine the
policy and movements of our organization
even to the extent of ordering a suspen-
sion of work should we fail to establish
a general joint conference with %e oper-
ators.
Conferred with Coal Men.
'In prosecuting the duties assigned to
| us, your committee addressed commu-
| nication to each of the presidents OF the
| coal carrying railroads inviting them to
| join us in holding joint conference with
representatives of the mine workers, Fail
| ing to receive any favorable replies to
| our invitations subcommittee, composed
of the national and the district presidents,
| proceeded to the city of New York, and
| through the instrumentality and assist
| ance of influential friends of organized
| labor conference was secured with
representatives of the coal carrying rail-
roads with which your committee pre-
sented the claims of the mine workers in
as able and lucid manner as they were
capable Of The representatives of the
operators listened attentively to the pre-
sentation of our arguments and,
while they would not agree to
meet in general joint conference
with the miners this year they did agree
that the notices which were posted, con-
| tinuing the advance in wages until April
l. 1902 and agreeing to take up and ad-
| lust with their mine employees any
grievances they might have, should be
| interpreted and construed to mean that
| such grievances should be considered and
| adjusted with representatives or commit
tees of the mine workers; and they held
out the hope that if during the present
| wear the mine workers demonstrated
their willingness and ability to abstain
from engaging in local strikes, full and
complete recognition of the organization
would unquestionaby be accorded at
future date.
"While your committee regret to re-
| port that they were unable to secure ali
| the concessions we hoped for, and believe
we are Justly entitled to, we are OF opin-
ion that the willingness of the various
| coal companies 10 receive committees rep
resenting mine workers for the adjudice-
| tion of grievances, records an important
| advance step in the right direction, and
| messages more harmonious and equitable
relations between employers and employees
than have prevailed in the anthracite re-
| gion heretofore.
work 80 Be Continued.
''In consideration Of the vast interests
involved and in view of the fact that
at least partial recognition Of our organ
ization has been secured, and with the
hope that a greater degree of Justice VIII
he attained in the not distant future,
vour committee to whom was delegated
| the power and authority 10 determine
| whether work should cease or continue
after April /, would respectfully recon-
mend that work be continued, and that
| committees be selected at each mine, col
Ilery. stripping and washery and In
str1lcted TO wait upon the mine superin-
tendents. or other persons In authority
! and In a respectful conservative, fearless
and able manner. present any grievances,
| either as TO prices or conditions Of en-
n,ovment that the mine workers may
| have: and ask that such grievances be ad-
tusted. In any locality or district where
there Is a group OF mines operated by the
same company, and where grievances are
sImlIar in character and prevail at each
| ~ the colueriee we would recommend
that the committees from said group OF
\ collIerles meet together and Jointly tab
uiate. agree upon and present their griev-
anees 10 the general superintendents or
MANAGERS IN order that remedies may be
applied 70 all alike.
Against Local strikes.