The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-12

agreements with any of it's employees
about the weighing of coal. The quantity is
usually determined by measurement; that
when coal is mined by the ton IL is Gus
tomary and necessary to make allowances
for slate and impurities. But this company
does not mine by the ton. 1t denies that
there Is anything unreasonab BILE or unfair
in the method it has practiced in arriving
at the measurement of the coal from its
mines.
"Ninth-This company replying to the
fourth demand says: That the United Mine
Workers of America are primarily a BIZ
luminous coal organization. That bitumin-
Gus coal is a rival competitor in the mar
ket with anthracite COAL that ever since
the advent of the United Mine Workers of
America In the anthracite fields the bust
ness conditions in the anthracite mines
mines has decreased, discipline has been
destroyed. strikes have been of almost
daily occurrence; men worked when and as
they pleased and the cost of mining has
been greatly increased.
"At the Shamokin convention of the
United Mine Workers of America, referred
TO in the statement, IL was resolved: That
the United Mine Workers at any colliery
when the employees refused TO become mem
bers of the organization or wear the but
ton, the local governing such colliery, after
using all persuasive measures to get such
employees to join and failing In such, shall
have full power to suspend full operation at
such colliery until such employees become
members of the organization
subsequently, to-wit on May II, the
United Mine Workers of America inaugu-
rated a strike and by threats and intimi-
dation caused suspension of work at all
mines. Under date of May q they issued
formal official order requiring all pump
men, firemen and engineers to desert their
posts of duty, with intent to force submits
sion to their unjust demands by the de-
struction of the mines. By threats and
violence they tried to prevent other men
from taking the places of the firemen,
pumpmen and engineers. The said United
Mine Workers of America we'll knew that If
this company did not succeed in keeping
the pumps going the mines would be so
greatly injured that Ii would be impossible
to mine coal for many months after the
strike ended and that by reason thereof
the workmen of the anthracite fields would
be deprived of employment and the public
be made to suffer untold hardships because
of inability to procure fuel during the win
ter months.
ders and the power expressly given by it's
Shamokin convention to suspend operations
at such collieries until such employees be-
come members of the organization all man.
ner of force and violence was used to pre-
vent pumping of the mines to save them
from destruction and to prevent nonunion
men from working. The situation is well
described in the proclama ton of the Gov
ernor of the State of Pennsylvania to
which We beg to refer as part of this an
swer. This company AYERS that these acts
of intimidation, of injury to persons and
property and disturbances of the public
peace were contrary to the law of the
land.
This company, further answering, AYERS
that the Jurisdiction of this commission is
limited to the conditions named in the
statement of the coal company presidents.
by virtue of which the commission was
appointed, and that by express terms as
well as by necessary implication the inves-
tigation is confined to matters affecting it's
employees, and excludes the United Mine
Workers of America from any part or rec
ignition in the proceedings, recommended
tions or decisions of this commission.
Further answering, it says that if and
when labor organization limited to work.
in anthracite mines is created which
shall obey the laws of the land, respect the
right of every man to work whether he be-
longs to a union or not. and shall honestly
cooperate with the employers in securing
good work. efficiency, fair production and
necessary discipline. trade agreements may
become practicable.
And further answering, the company
says that Ii does not and will not discrim-
mate against workmen belonging to the
United Mine Workers of America or any
other labor organization so long as they
perform satisfactory work and behave as
law-abiding people should. but that the
company will at all times employ any per-
son IL sees fit. and will not permit any labor
organization to limit the right of employ
ment to the members of its organization