Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-11-26
To Give the Coal Operators and Coal
Miners an Opportunity to Try
and Get Together.
A SUDDEN TURN IN AFFAIRS
Both Sides Recognize That Progress
Has Been Slow and Expensive
Agreement Must be Lasting.

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 21.-The mine
workers, through their representa-.
tives, have agreed with the mine own.
ers to adjust the differences existing
between them outside the anthracite
coal strike commission. The propo.
sition was made on a compromise ba.
sis and negotiations. it is expected,
will be at once entered upon, with a
reasonable hope of settlement with
out the aid of the arbitrators. The
rough proposition which is to form the
basis of negotiations is ten per cent
increase in wages, a nine hour day
and trade agreements between the
miners and the company by whom
they are employed. Only one of the
four demands not touched upon is
that of weighing coal by the legal ton.
While both sides have expressed a
willingness to settle their differences
among themselves, it is not to be con-
strued that 1t carries with ii accept
ance of the terms proposed. They
are mentioned only as basis, il is
understood, from which a settlement
Is to be effected.
1t is possible that the foundation al
ready laid can be wrecked by either
party holding out too strongly against
some question and thus leave the
whole matter in the hands OF the COM
missioners. who, in the meantime,
will act as a sort of board of arbi-
Il iation.
Few persons were aware that an
attempt would be made at an outside
settlement until it was practically so
intimated by Judge Gray, the chair
man of the commission, who read a
carefully prepared announcement
from the bench"
The move, one of the most impor-
tart in the whole history of the coal
strike, created a mild sensation when
1t became known. The surprise was
all the greater when il was remem-
bered that numerous persons, from
thc President OF the United States
down, and many organizations, from
the National Civic Federation to small
bodies of trade unions of the mining
towns, failed to bring the two parties
together. IL is said II was all brought
about by both sides seeing that pro-
ceedings before the commission would
be interminable and that in the inter-
mingling of the lawyers for both sides
the outside agreement proposition was
broached and taken up. II cannot be
officially stated which party made the
proposition first Attorneys for both
sides are averse to talking, but those
who were inclined to say something
differ in their statements. An attor-
ney for one of the railroads said that
Ii came from the miners side. while
one lawyer from the miners side said
that it came from the operators. An
other representative of the miners
said IL was spontaneous" proposi-
ton. II is generally believed, how
ever, that the operators were first to
make the proposition.
There Is a wide difference of 0pin-
ion as to whether the proposal to set
tie the differences among themselves
will meet with success. As general
proposition ii is believed by the law
yers that it will succeed, but that
some of the controversial points will
have to go before the arbitrat0rs-
II has been realized that at least
two of the four demands of the min
ers-that for a uniform wage scale
and weighing of coal-cannot be sat
isfactorily settled in the hearing room
but must be fixed up at the mines.
There are upward of $50 colleries and
there are hardly any two of them
alike. II is argued by the operators
that there must be a different scale
for each one on account OF the vary
ing condition and that uniform wage
scale. which is one Of the miners de-
mands, is impossible. Regarding the
Weighing of coal. the operators say
that il would be impossible to grant
the demands as presented by the min
ers because of the non-existence OF
machinery or system by which a min
er can be paid for 2,240 pounds of pre-
pared coal II will have to be done.
they say, through the present system
OF averages.
The proposition is to have the mine
workers work contracts with their
employers only, and not as is done IN
bituminous states, where the opera
tors have state or district organiza.
tions which recognize the United
Mine Workers of America. The pro.
posed contract with each company
does not carry with 1t recognition
of the miners union and on that
ground il is likely that the two parties
will be able TO settle IL without resort
to the arbitration commission.
II is not doubted that whatever
agreement, IL one is reached, will
approved by the commission. The
agreement, however, will have to be
one that will provide Tor reasonably
sure and permanent settlement. In.
structions on this point given to the
commissioners by President Roose-
welt, when he handed the case To
them, to settle, are explicit.
II was agreed tonight by the min.
ers' representatives and attorneys for
the coal companies to ask the coal
commission TO adjourn tomorrow un,
I'll Wednesday, December 3. Ii is like.
iv thIe raonest will he pranted