Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-24
LOCAL MINES
NOT WORKING
Individual Operators Are
Violating Agreement.
Terms of Settlement Propo-
sition Ignored at Markle's.
Coxe's and Pardee's Col-
Iieries Strike Continues.

The coal strike is still on, so far as
the great majority OF the mine workers
OF this section are concerned. The
union men at the colleries OF G. B.
Markle & Co., Coke Bros. & Co. and
Pardee & Co. have not returned to work.
This action Is due to gross violation
by the officials of these firms OF the
terms of the settlement proposition pre-
sented by the coal-carrying companies
to President Roosevelt on October IA
and accepted by the United Mine Work
ers of America on October 81.
The concluding paragraph Of the op-
orators proposition to end the strike
contains the following:
ut being the understanding that i'm
mediately upon the constitution of such
(arbtration) commission, in order that
ldeness and non-production may cease
instantly, THE MINERS WILL RETURN TO
WORK and cease all interference with
and persecution Of non-union men who
are working or shall hereafter work"
This portion of the proposition was
unreservedly accepted by the miners
and the operators were so notified
through President Roosevelt, but yester-
day, when the miners appeared at the
collieries OF the firms named, to carry
out their part of the contract, they were
met with notices, printed In some places
and verbally given In others, that they
can not return to work until they make
individual application for position and
sign special agreements in which they
solemnly promise not to interfere with
non-union workers and agree indivi-
dually to abide by the findings Of the ar
bitration commission.
This open refusal OF the local indivId-
nal operators to live up to the plan of
settlement offered by the large corpora
poyes, and to cause further dissenson
their violation OF the terms OF the
proposition has been followed by Coke
Bros. & Co. with wholesale discharges
of number of men whose nationality
is detested by the clique which has
charge of the interests of the Drifton
company.
1t being understood that unwarranted
discharges OF employees is to be subject
for consideration at the hands of Presi-
| dent Roosevelt's commission, the miners
are disposed to overlook for the present
the rank discrimination practised by
Coke Bros. & Co., bat they do not feel
that they should waive any OF the rights
accorded them by the settlement plan,
especially those portions which the
operators themselves framed and present.
ed. The mine workers have unanimous
offered them by the mining companies
through President Roosevelt, and the
action of the local operators in refusing
to permit them to return to work on the
terms of the settlement plan proves dis
honesty on the operators part to which
the miners will not submit.
At Upper Lehigh the resumption was
general, the officials In charge there
again proving themselves ready to meet
their employees halfway in settling the
trouble. While some could not be given
work just now, on account of some of
the mines not being In condition, the
officials expect to provide employment
in the near future for all the former
workers, excepting a few against whom
charges have been lodged.
At Sandy Run no one appeared for
work yesterday, as Kemmerer & Co. had
announced that operations will not be
resumed until the winter is over.
| AT Jeddo, Highland and Oakdale the