The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1902-11-20
THE OPERATORS OPPOSE
The Recognition of the Union In the
Coal Strike Adjustment.

Coal Strike Adjustment
Washington, Special.-That the an
thracite coal mine owners will resist
to the utmost every effort to make the
recognition of the United Mine Work
| ers of America an issue in the arbi-
| tration which Is now in progress is
made evident by the replies to the
statement of President John Mitchell
Of the miners organization, which
have been filed with the strike COM
mission. Them are five of these an
swe-s in addition TO that Of President
Baer, which was given out Tuesday.
and all dwell with especial emphasis
and marked unaninity on this point.
They also agree in resisting the de-
mands Of the miners for an increase
of wages for piece work, a reduction
OF hours for time work and for the
weighing rather than the measurement
OF coal.
Recorder Wright left for the anthra-
cite regions, taking those replies with
him. In addition to the statement
made for the Reading Company by
President Baer the list comprises the
replies of the Delaware & Hudson
Company, the Delaware G. Lackawanna,
the Lehlgh Valley and the Scranton
Coal Company. The reply for the Della
ware G Lackawanna Company, signed
by w. H. Truesdale, says:
This company unequivocally asserts
taat it will under no condition recog-
rize o. enter into any agreement with
the association known as the United
Mine Workers of America. Nor will it
permit said association or its officers
to dictate the terms and conditions
under which it shall conduct its bust
ness" Mr.. Truesdale says they will
adopt a uniform rate to pay the miner
for unit coal mined at all mines. On
the point of general prosperity, he
says: Prior to the introduction Of ag-
ilatcrs and mischief-makers, the an
thrsc!te workers were on an average
as prosperous, comfortable and con-
tented as any body Of workers in SIM
liar employment in this country" The
wages, it is added, are such that frugal
employees have saved a substantial
amount every year. Mr.. Truesdaye re-
sists the demand for a reduction Of 20
per cent lin hours of labor, saying that
no branch Of business employing
thousands Of men can hope to compete
successfully in the markets Of the
world if it's hours Of labor are re-
stricted.
President O%lyphant, Of the Delaware
& Hudson Company, in his reply, de-
clares that the wages paid by his COM
pany are just and adequate. He also
says that those Of its employees who
perform contract or piece work, as 4
matter Of their own volition work only
about six hours a day and take nu-
merous holidays without consent or
approval Of this respondent and their
earnings by hours Of actual work are,
therefore. much higher than those in
any similar employment" President
Olyphant takes exception to the propo-
sition to arbitrate the question Of the
recognition of the miners union. This
position is placed On the ground that
the organization seeks to control the
entire fuel supply Of the country; that
as the union is unincorporated it is in
capable Of making a binding contract.
President T p. Fowler speaks for the
Scranton Coal Company, and the Elk
Hill Coal Company. He asserts that
"if the average wage earned by the
men known as piece-workers is less
than that paid to workers in other en-
Payments it is because they fix their
own hours of labor and the amount Of
their earnings" On the question OF
miners unions. Mr.. Fowler denies the
agreements made by the employers and
employees through workingmen's or
CARNATIONS are beneficial and success
full in the bituminoUs coal fields, or
elsewhere, and assert that any such
agreement as a method of regulating
production would be and is injurious to
the best interests Of the public"
The statements made for the Lehigh
Valley and the Pennsylvania Compa-
MES cover the same ground as the
other statements.