Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-26
OPERATORS REJECT OFFER.
Decline the Proposition Offered by Rep
resentatiyes of Miners.

A dispatch from New York last night
says: A serious hitch occurred today in the
plans for a settlement of the coal eontro-
vcrsy between the coal operators and the
miners union. and it Is now almost certain
that the final adjustment of the points at
Issue will be referred again to the Gray
commission
At meeting between the presidents of
the coal roads and large number Of in
dependent operators a strong protest was
entered by the latter against treating d.
rectly with the miners. An invitation to
meet Mr. Mitchell at Washington on Friday
declined peremptorily, and 1t was
agreed unanimously that In the Judgment
o. the OPERATOR II was best for the present
to go on with the hearing before the COM
mission.
During the conference a request was re-
ceived from Washington asking that both
the independent opera tors and the railroad
representatives meet John Mitchell and his
associates on Friday. Mr.. Baer president
of the Reading Railroad Company was in
structed to make the following answer:
The conditions are such that no sub
stantfai progress toward an adjustment can
be made BY the suggested meeting. The
general Judgment of the operators Is that
1t will be best for the present. to go on
with the hearing
The Independent coal operators tested
to the coal carrying railroads against the
mine workers union. One of the reasons
advanced by the independent operators is
that such settlement upon the basis sug-
gested would forever establish the power
and perpetuate the injustice perpetrated by
the United Mine Workers"
Mr.. Simpson Presents Protest
The protest was presented by Mr.. Simp-
son. who said:
Gentlemen: In making our protest
against nrerspt sattlapoapt Of fh. n,.on.;o~
at issue We desire to emphasize certain
points Of material Importance. During the
last five months no consistent effort has
been made TO inform the public of the true
state OF affairs. Consequently 1t has ac-
cepted the miners version and believes we
are treating our employees unfairly de-
frauGtng them Of their earnings and pre-
venting them from making a decent liveli-
hood.
It is our opinion, and one upon which we
are very determined. that we owe 1t to our
selves to have this Investigation continue.
In order that testimony may be taken
which may prove clearly to the public at
large that the wages we have paid and the
treatment accorded our men have been
fair, and that their earnings have been
large in proportion to the intelligence re-
quired and their willingness to work
ITO common labor the daily wage has
been small. but no less than 1t receives
from the same class OF work in any indus
trial pursuit and more than on your rail-
to the man who handles pick or wheels a
barrow.
As to the miners, 1t can be shown that
their annual earnings are more than the
amount called fair wages which was speci-
fled by two witnesses called for the plain
tin. Their wages per hour are grea ter than
those of skilled mechanics working and
living tn the same region. and they work
less hours per day. through choice and
consequently through the same choice less
days per year. since the operator must en-
ploy large number of men In order to Sc
cure the output which might be produced
by fraction OF that number.
Steady Workers Well Paid.
This Is very readily susceptible of proof
by our books and those of your own mining
companies You will find that the men who
have had the largest earnings are those
who have worked steadily. just as me-
: chanic must. while the small earnings have
Invariably been to those who have given
little time or care to their labor, The adj
vantage given by an unusually good cham