The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-10-11
STRIKE IS STILL ON
Continued from Page q,

6RdIeS. 1Ddl Gd1iIlOl OS 0OliV AZ 1853
than two weeks time. That much no
tice, I am told, is called for in the by
laws.
THE public will observe that there is
a great difference between resuming
work Immediately and resuming work
at the end of two weeks. In word,
MitchelTs proposition has a string to it..
Moreover, how do the operators know
that Mitchell can control his men? Did
not they go back on him at Hazelton
two years ago when he ordered them
not to strike?
THE trouble is that there are two
sides to this fght-the responsible side
and the irresponsible side. The opera
tors stand for something; the miners
are in position to draw out of any
agreement their leaders may make. 1t
is impossible to make a binding agree
ment with Mitchell
THE COAL ISSUES.
With the advent of October the min
ing of anthracite coal had been sus-
pended five months. Millions of people
with winter on their heels are without
coal. Even though the strike should be
declared off today normal conditions
could not obtain in the local market
for weeks, and perhaps months. A de-
mand which usually extends itself over
a season will seek to be satisfied in
day. Railroads already taxed by an
unusually heavy fall traffic will be call
ed on to handle a tonnage of coal that
should have been moving from the
mines to local depots all summer. Con-
gestion will result Buyers will bid
against each other and there will be
"a high premium on speedy delivery.
Prices will be abnormal. Thus the eff
feet of the strike will be felt long after
the labor trouble is adjusted or the
miners or the operators have submit
ted.
And yet coal consumers do not even
know what all the trouble is about.
There are two sizes and each side has
filed a statement of the case These
statements conflict. The court of pub
lie opinion cannot harmonic them, nor
can it determine which statement is the
correct one.
According to the mine owners, the
mine workers, through their president,
Mr.. John Mitchell, demand
First, recognition of the union as the
representative of the strikers.
Second, an eight-hour work day, and
Third, an increase of wages.
To the first demand the operators
reply that they will not recognize the
union as a party in the negotia ton.
They viii not arbitrate and will make
no agreement with the union. They
have said that they are willing to hear
their own employees on hours and wages
and will make all concessions which,
after discussion, shall appear reason
able.
President Baer on February IS, in
letter to the mine workers, wrote:
I'VE will always receive and consider
every application of the men in our en-
ploy. We will endeavor to correct every
abuse, to right every wrong, to deal
justly and fairly with them and to give
every man fair compensation for the
work he performs. Beyond this we can
not co.
On September 8 Mr.. Baer again said
in public statement: "It Isl by rea-
son of varying conditions at each mine,
impracticable to adopt uniform scale
OF wages for the whole region; but at
each coliiery every complaint and griev-
ance will be taken up and investigated
by the superintendent and adjusted
when it is just"
Liz oPOlebsoAo soy Tia II t1ACy grant
ed the demand for union recognition
they would have to admit,
First, that every workman whose
name is not on the union rolls as
member in good standing shall be dis
charged;
Second, that no non-union men shall
hereafter be employed;
Third, that if union man shall here
after be dismissed for any cause he
shall be reinstated on demand of the
union or its representative: and fourth,
that the foremen and superintendent
shall be agreeable to the union
On the other hand the mine workers
say this is not a fair statement of the
case. Their statement is that on Feb
ruary Il the United Mine Workers sent
a letter to the coal producing companies
inviting them to confer over the wage
scale for the year beginning April /.
1902. The companies declined to dis
cuss the question. A convention of the
men was held and the following de-
mands were made;
First, an increase of twenty per cent
in wages. to all men performing con-
tract work;
Second, eight hours to constitute a
days work for all persons employed
by the day or week without any re-
duction in their present wage rate; and
Third, coal to be accurately weighed
and paid for by weight wherever prac-
fica hla