The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-30
ANTHRACITE MINERS
WILL NOT STRIKE
--T
The General Committee Is
sues a Statement.
ADuIcE AGAINST STRIKE
ADVISE AGAINST STRIKE
They Held Conferences With the
Mine Owners.
UNABLE TO SECURE ALL DEMANDS
The Operators Give. Them Reason to Hope Thai
in the Future the Miners Organizations
Will be Recognized in the ADJUST
ment of Grievances
ment Of Grievances
tBy the Associated Press.)


(By the Associated Press.)
Wilkesbarre Pa, March 29.-The gen.
eraI committee of Nine Workers has is
sued the following statement:
''Wilkesbarre, Pa, March 18th.
Miners and Mine Workers of the
Anthracite Region.
"Gentlemen Pursuant to the instruc-
tions embodied in the resolutions adopt
ed at the Hazleton convention, your
committee, consisting of national and
district officers, have made every pos
sible effort to arrange a Joint confer
ence of operators and miners prior to
April 1st, 1901. The resolution provid-
ed that full power was vested in the
executive board, the district and ma
tional officers, TO determine the policy
and movements of our organization
even to the extent of ordering a sus
pension of work should we fail to es-
tablish a general joint conference with
the operators.
I'm prosecuting the duties assigned
to us, your committee addressed COM
munication to each of the presidents of
the coal carrying railroads, inviting
them to join us in holding joint con-
workers. Failing to receive any fav-
orable replies to our Invitations sub
committee, composed Of the national
and district presents proceeded to the
city of New York, AMI through the in
strumentality and assistance of the in
fuential friends of organized labor, a
conference was secured with represen-
tatives of the coal carrying railroads
1vif UrI1i :. taH
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-
sentaticn of our argumt nts 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 continuing the ad-
vance in wages until April 1st 1902, and
agreeing to take up ard adjust with
their mine employees any grievances
they might have, should be interrupted
and construed to meaI! that such griev-
ances should be considered and adjusted
with representatives of committees of
the mine workers; and they held out
the hope that if during the present year,
the mine workers demonstrated their
Willingness and ability to abstain from
engaging in local strikes, full and COM
plete recognition Of the organization
would unquestionably be accorded at a
future date.
f'While your committee regret to re-
port that they were unable to secure all
the concessions we hoped for and believe
we are justly entitled to, we are of the
opinion that the Willingness of the various
coal companies to receive committees rep
resenting mine workers for the adjudica-
tion of grievances, records an important
advance step in the right direction and
pressages more harmonious and equitable
relations between employers and en-
p1oyes than have prevailed in the anthra-
cite region heretofore.
''In consideration of the vast inter-
ests involved and in view of the fact
that at least partial recognition of our
organization has been secured and with
the hope that greater degree of JUS
tice will be obtained in the not distant
future, your committee to whom was
delegated the power and authority to de-
termine whether work cease or continue
after April 1st would respectfully recom-
mend that work be continued, and that
committees be selected at each mine, coll
liery, stripping and washery and in
b1t uItSu 10 walt upon the mine SQperln-
tendents or other person in authority, and
in respectful, conservative, fearless
and able manner, present any grievances,
either as to prices or conditions of en-
ployment, that the mine workers may
nave; and ask that such grievances be
adjusted. In any locality or district where
there is group of mines operated by
the same company, and where grievances
are similar in character and prevail at
each of the collieries we would recon-
mend that the committees from said
group Of colleries meet together and
Jointly tabulate. agree upon and present
their grievances to the general superin-
tendents CT managers, in order that rem
edles may be applied to all alike Your
committee would also recommend that the
various committees report the result of
their efforts to have grievances adjust
ed to the national and district officers
We would further recommend and urge
upon mine workers everywhere to refrain
from engaging in local strikes except
when aVthorized by the district presi-
dents in accordance with the constitution
and laws of the national and district or
ganiZations. If this policy is adhered to
we believe that the work of our organi-
gressive methods of adjusting wages diff
ferences vii be very much facilitated In
concluding this report, We desire to ex-
press our appreciation to 1.-THE members