The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-11

New York. June 11.-United States Labor
Commissioner Carol ID. Wright had two
hours conference with President Baer OF
the Philadelphia and Reading railroad.
President oliphant OF the Delaware and
Hudson company and President Trues-
dale OF the Delaware. Lackawanna and
Western railroad
Mr.. Wright said that the books had
been opened and he had secured all facts
and figures and now had sufficient In
formation OF both sides, which would
probably not necessitate his going TO tho
coal fields. He declared the investigation
vas practically over.
LETTERS MADE PUBLIC.
The presidents OF the coal roads i'm
medistely affected by the strike OF the
anthracite coal miners made public let-
ters which have passed between the op-
orators and Pres, Mitchell and other rep
sentatives OF the United Mine Workers
In reply 10 the invitation of Feb. Ia to the
operators TO Joint conference to form "A
wage scale. The operators say they have
heretofore hesitated about making public
this correspondence.
''The president OF the United states"
they add, having requested Mr.. Wright
the commissioner OF labor To investigate
the strike. the presidents OF the coal COM
panies have given him such facts as he
desired, including this correspondence
The first letter In reply TO the invita-
tion on the HIST is that OF President Baer
OF the Central Railroad OF New Jersey
declining 10 join In the conference, dated
Philadelphia, Feb. Is, 1902. and addressed,
as were all replies the operators say
to John Mitchell, president. and others"
At Indianapolis Mr.. Baer contends that
Il Is practicable 20 formulate a wage
scale I'm the anthracite region. as I'm the
bituminous because OF the marked diff
ference between the two methods OF min
ing.
Mr.. Baer goes on 10 say that the COM
pany he represents does not favor the
plan of having its relations with Its min
ers disturbed every year.
There cannot" he says. ''be two mas
ters in the management of business. Dis
cipline in management is essential, and
discipline is impossible where the en-
ploye relies on some outside power TO sus-
tain him in disobeying reasonable
orders"
UNION REPUDIATED.
President Truesdale OF the Lackawanna
replied In the same strain and declined
TO attend the conferenc
President Y. Il. Thomas OF the Erie
replied most emphaucany, republicans .'.s
right of the union to interfere. lie says
the effect of the action OF the miners 5
organization has been 10 create spirit
OF unrest and marked depreciation In
the quantity OF the work. There nave
he says. been Interruptions or work oc-
casioned by unwarranted demands ana
agitation resulting In the loss OF over SV
devs' work or over coo 900 tons OF produc-
tion from April to oct !. Says MT
Thomas:
10 labor. and this without regard 10 ma
tionality. creed or association. TO seek
IN nreyent IL Is a crime, and we can
sanction
a course. This company prefers to deal
with its own employees.
HISTORY OF THE STRIKE.
The REPLIES of President 7. u. Fowler
os the ontario and Western. T. NJ. OH
nhant OF the Delaware and Hudson and
Alfred Walter of the Lehigh valley are
brief. and in line with the others,
THE history OF the strike from the Sha-
mokin convention of May is then outlin-
ed and the following is given as propo-
sitions by Mr. Thomas, understood 10 be
the basis OF the first conference or the
coal presidents and the mine workers ana
civic federation officials:
"Fcirst-The anthracite companies do
not undertake in the slightest manner 10
dtscrininate against members OF the
United Mine Workers OF America; but
they do insist that members OF that or
ganization shall not discriminate against
nor decline 10 work with non-members of
such association.
"second-That there shall he no dete-
rioration I'm the quantity or quality or the
work and that there shall be no effort TO
restrict the individual exertions- Oh men
who. working by the ton or car may for
reasons satisfactory TO themselves and
their employers. produce such a quantity
OF work Al they may desire.
"Thtrd-Ry reason OF the different con-
ditions. varying not only with the dis
tricts but with the mines themselves
thus rendering absolutely impossible any
thing approaching uniform conditions.
each mine must arrange either individ-
uallv or through IT'S committees with the
superlntendents or managers any dues-
tlons affecting wages or grievances
NO pIcTATIoN FROM UNION.
The first discussion, the adjournment for
sn days. and the two futile and final dis
cussions between the union leaders and
the operators. represented by Messrs.
Thomas Truesdale and Baer. are mem.
TONED. Mr. Mtchells dispatch Of May g.
IN which he proposes that. in view OF the
failure OF any agreement resulting from
the discussion up to that time. the In
dustrial branch Of the civic federation
select n committee OF FIVE to arbitrate and
decide ALI questions In dispute. the award
10 be binding upon both parties for the
period Of one year.
Another proposition in this telegram IL
that a committee composed OF Archbish-
on ireland. Bishop Potter and one other
person whom those two may select be au-
thorIzed 10 make an investigation into
the wages and conditions Of employment
existing in the anthracite neld, and ~
they decide that the average annual
wages received by anthracite mine work.
era are sufficient 90 enable them TO live.
maintain and educate their families In a
manner conformable 20 established Am.
srican standards and consistent with Am
erican citizenship. we agree 10 withdraw
our claims for higher means and more
equitable conditions Of employment. pro-
vidIng that the anthracite mine operators
agree 20 comply with any recommenda-
tions the above committee may make af-
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