The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-06-11

uation will not be soon improved AT
mass-meetings held at Glen ca to-day.
the strikers decided to remain out IN
! dedefnitely, unless the operators grant
| their demands. In the Kanawha field a
few mines are being operated, but with
| a. greatly reduced force.
DIDN'T ENTER CONFERENCE.
Correspondence Between Presidents OF
Coal Roads and President Mitchell.
(By Associated Press.)
| NEW YORK, June 10.-The presidents
Of the coal roads Immediately affected by
the strike Of the anthracite coal miners
made public to-day letters and kilograms
which have passed between the operators
and President Mitchell and other repre-
sentatives of the United Mine Workers.
The first letter on the list is that of
| President Baer, of the Central Railroad
| of New Jersey, dated Philadelphia, Feb
| ruary Is, 1902 and addressed, as were all
lrep1ies. the operators say, to John Mitch
ell, president, and Others" at Indianap-
| oils.
Mr.. Baer says: I'm the judgment of
! companies I represent it is impracticable
| to form a wage scale for the whole an,
| thracite region. The mining of anthracite
coal is entirely different from that of BIZ
| luminous coal. This company does not
| favor the plan Of having its relations
| with the miners disturbed every year.
I'VE will always receive and consider
/ every application of the men in our en-
ploy. We will endeavor to correct every
! abuse, to right every wrong, to deal just
| ly xand fairly with them
.'Your organizations have no power to
enforce their DEGREES and thereby insure
discipline, and we have no power to
maintain discipline except the power to
discharge.
"a careful analysis of the results of
| last years operations shows that the eff
| ficiency of our own mines has decreased
| / 100000 tons because the contract miners
have worked only four and half to SIX,
| hours a day."
The letter concludes by declining to
| join in any conference.
President. Truesdale. of the: Lacka-
wanna, writing from New York, F ebru-
airy -, 1902, to the miners officials. de-
clines to enter the conference.
UNREST AND AGITATION.
President E. B. Thomas, of the Erie,
also declines a conference. and has this
to say in his letter, dated New York.
February 20, 1902: $50 far the apparent
effect of your association has been that
at no time during the last twenty years
/ a.
| ton prevailed among the anthracite min
ers than has existed during, the past year
The depreciation in the qrt.ntity of work
produced per man has amcsnted to about
! twelve per cent, and from April to Octo-
Der list there have been no less than one
hundred and two Interruptions OF WORK
coca stoned by unwarranted demands and
agitation by members of your ASSOCIATION,
resulting in a, loss of over 900 days work
| TOR Of
of them were brought about by unWar-
ranted> causes. .
The replies of T. o. Fowler, of the On
| tario and Western; r. Olip4-ant, OF the
D. and H., and Fred. Walter. of the Lee
high Valley, are brief.
They all decline a conference
| The operators follow these replies with
! a notice posted in the collieries March
IA, 1902, containing the wages then IN Ell
feet until April /, 1908.
These kilograms follow:
..AIarch 90, 1902.
..By direction of the Miners. Conven-
ton was appointed to ascertain MI ~ y noaI
| company will join other anthracite coal
companies in conference with committee
representing coal miners for the purpose
of discussing and adjusting grievances
| which affect all companies and all en-
pt tSign sat1Ae. JoHN MITCHELL,
chairman.
| Answer. March "a, 1902.
ALWAYS willing. to meet our employees
to discuss and adjust any grievances. i
! had hoped that my letter clearly express
ed { sign d5sSs' GEORGE q BAER',
: BAs1s OF FIRST CONVENTIONS
The history Of the strike 4 from !, n t, the
outlined, and the following are given as
propositions by Mr.. Thomas, understood
to be the basis of the first conference of
! the coal presidents and the mine workers
| and Civic FederatlO officials.
"First-The anthracite companies do not
undertake in the slightest manner to dis
| criminate against members OF the United
Mine Workers of America, but they do in
sist that members of that organiza ton
shall not discriminate against nor decline
to work with non-members of such asso-s
:.second-That there shall be no de.
sterioration in the quantity or quality of
effort to restrict the individual exertions
of men who. working ton or car. may. for
reasons satisfactory to themselves. and
! their employers produce such a quality OF.
work as they may desire.
"Third-By reason of the different CON
ditions varying not only with the dis
thus rendering absolutely impossible any
| thing approaching uniform conditions,
each mine must arrange, and individually
or throughEits committees. with the SUI
iperintendents any questions affecting
wa ges or grievances
The first discussion. the adjournment.
6nal discussions between the union lead
ers and the operators. represented by
Messrs. Thomas Truesdale and Baer, are
mentioned.
MR.. .MITCHELL's PROPOSITION.
| Mr.. Mtchells dispatch 4of May Sth to
! the operators is then given. It submits
the following propositions:
"First-Inasmuch as the anthracite
mine operators have. proposed to continue
the present wage scale for one year and
inasmuch as the anthracite mine workers
have unanimously resolved to ask that
an increase of 20 per cent. should be paid
on present prices to $all men performing
constitute a days labor for all persons
employed by the hour. day or week, with
out anySr reduction in their present wage
rate: and that coal should be weighed and
paid for by weight. wherever practicable:
and ina smuch as in our recent conferences
the anthracite mine workers and mine