The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-11

History OF the Strike.
The history of the strike from the
Shamokin convention to May 8 is ther
outlined, and the following Is given al
propositions by Mr.. Thomas, under.
stood to be the basis of the first con.
ference Of the coal presidents and the
mine workers and civic federation Off.
cials:
First-rhe anthracite companies do not
undertake In the slightest manner to dis.
criminate against members of the United
Mine Workers of America; but they dc
insist that members of that organizat tion
shall not discriminate against nor decline
to work with non-membcrs of such asso.
citation.
Second-That there shall be no detcrior-
alton In the quantity or quality of the
work; and that there shall be no effort
to restrict the Individual exertions OF
men who. working by the ton or car, may
for reasons satisfactory to themselves
and their employers. produce such a
quantity of work as they may desire.
Thrd-By reason of the different con-
ditions. varying not only with the districts
but with the mines themselves, thus rem
dering absolutely impossible anything APP
preaching uniform canditions. each miner
must arrange. either individually or
tendents or managers, any questions af-
fecting wages or grievances
The first discussion. the adjournment
for thirty days, and the two futile and
final discussions between the union
leaders and the operators represented
by Messrs. Thomas, Truesdale and
Baer, are mentioned.
DISPATCH of Nav g.
Mr.. Mitchell's dispatch of May to
the operators is then given, as follows:
Scranton, Pa, May S, 1902
Conscious of the disastrous effects upon
mine workers, mine operators and the
public in general which would result from
a prolonged suspension of work in the
anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania
and with earnest desire and hope OF
avoiding the impending calamity, the
representatives of the anthracite mine
workers have authorized us to submit
the following propositions:
First - 1nasmuch as the anthracite
mine operators have proposed to continue
the present wage scale for one year. and
inasmuch as the anthracite mine work.
ers have unanimously resolved to ask
that an increase of twenty per cent
should be paid on present prices to all
men performing contract work, that
elgnt nOuTS SnOuld constitute day
labor for all persons employed by the
hour. day or week, without any reduc.
tion In their present wage rate, and that
coal should be weighed and paid for by
weight wherever practicable, and mas
much as In our recent conferences the
anthracite mine workers and mine opera.
tors have failed to reach an agreement
upon any of the questions at issue. we
propose that the industrial branch of the
national Civic Federation select a com.
mittee of five persons to arbitrate and
decide all or any of the questions in dis
pute. the award of such board of arbi-
tration to he binding upon both parties
and effective for a period of one year.
Second--Should the above proposition
be unacceptable to you, we propose that
a committee composed of Archbishop
Ireland. Bishop Potter and one other per-
son whom these two may select, be au-
thorized to make an investigation into
the wages and conditions of employment
existing in the anthracite field, and if
they decide that the average annual
wages received by anthracite mine
workers are sufficient to enable them to
live, maintain and educate the families
in a manner conformable to established
American standards and consistent with
American citizenship we agree to with
draw our claims for higher wages and
more equitable conditions Of employment,
providing that the anthracite mine opera
tors agree to comply with any recon-
mendations the above committee may
make affecting the earnings and cOndi-
tions of labr of their employees.
An immediate reply is solicited
John Mitchell, Chairman.