The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-11
TELLS WHAT WOULD
BE SATISFACTORY
National Head of the Miners Or
ganization Points Out How the
Operators Would Be Gamers by
Recognizing the Union and Effect
ing an Explicit Agreement as to
Wages and other Terms of Work.
Nothing Now to obligate the Men
to Continue Work-The Notice
Posted at Collieries Saturday.

President John Mitchell, of the rni-
ted Mine Workers of America, arrived
here yesterday afternoon from Indian
apolis on the 3.33 Delaware. Lackawan-
ma and Western train. and stopped off
for Il day before proceeding to the
Hazleton convention. He was accom-
panied by his secretary. Miss Elizabeth
Morris. who was with him during the
big strike last fall, and who will acc
as stenographer of the secret sessions
of the convention.
Mr.. Mitchell spent the afternoon and
last night in conference with the local
labor leaders at the st. Charles. Dis
trict President Il. J. Nichols. Secre-
tary John r. Dempsey, National Or
ganizer Fred Dilcher Organizer Robert
y. Courtright. Mother" Jones and
Martin d. Flaherty, president of the
Central Labor union, were among
those who conferred with him.
He had expected to pass upon some
allegations that We're being made
against certain of the local officers by
sunday paper, but as the paper yes
terday declared its unreadiness to
prove its charges, Mr.. Mitchell is dis
posed to ignore the matter. His intan-
ton last night was too leave for ITa-
zleton this afternoon at 4.25 o'clock.
To a Tribune reporter who called
upon him last evening Mr.. Mitchell
said the bare statement attributed to
him by a despatch from indianapolis,
to the effect that the posting of no
tices was not satisfactory. did not con-
vey the fun truth.
nD I
THAT may mean much or it may
mean little" Mr.. Mitchell went on TO
say. I'm my judgment the proper way
to adjust wages and insure unnter-
rupted work is by annual conferences.
There is no good reason why the oper-
ators should not confer with us aud
there are many good reasons why
they should. Last fall they put forth
the excuse that the men were not rep.
resented by the Mine Workers union.
That excuse. they must admit. no
longer holds good, for no one better
than they knows that practically every
man in the region who is eligible to
membership is now enrolled in the
Mine Workers union
The operators make the charge
that strikes ere more frequent now
than ever before. | do not admit this
to be true, but If it was true, it would
be only natural. Before being organ
lied the men did not feel the confidence
and strength that comes from union.
| Now they realize their strength and
| il may be that they are prone To as
| scrt il. II they We're restrained by
some specific agreement, such as We
| want the operators to enter into, the
men would be obliged to do certain
| things before striking, and there would
! be an end to petty and sudden strikes,
such as it is alleged are frequently
| occurring.
For instance, II crowd Of drivers
! at some collierv had grievance they
| would not turn out to enforce a re-
| dress of that grievance, but realizing
| that their officers were authorized ia
| deal for them with their employers,
| they would restrain themselves and
| leave the adjustment of the dispute
! to their officers. If there was an
! agreement between the organization
and the operators the organization
would see to it that that agreement
was not violated by the men. At pres.
ent the United Mine Workers are un-
der no obligation to keep the men al
work, and, without breaking faith
could order a strike every month. Tho
operators ought to realize this and see
that it is to their advantage to doa
with the union"
NO DEFINITE REPLIES.
While not admitting 1t in so many
words. Mr. Nichols clearly demon
strated that he does not expect any
operators at the conference.
He sent them each a telegram ask
ing them If they would confer, and
followed This mp with letter invitins
them to confer lie received some re
sponses. but they contained nothing
definite as to whether or not the In
VitatiOn would be accepted.
Following is a copy Of the notice.
posted at all the collieries hcreabout,
Saturday; The 10 per cent. advancr
and other concessions made by thi
company ON Oct, 6, 1900. as per nOtic
posted will be continued to April I
1902, an1 thereafter, until further no
tice, Local differences will be adjust
ed with our own men at the respectiv
collieries."
| The notice was prepared at the meet