Evening journal., 1902-06-11
HOW BIG STRIKE
WAS PRRCIPITATRD
Letters Between Mitchell and
Operators Made Public
Railway Presidents Declined TO Meet
Mine Workers to Arrange a New
Wage Scale

New York, June 1.-THE presidents
of the coal roads Immediately affected
by the strike OF the anthracite coal
miners made public yesterday letters
and kilograms which have passed be-
tween the operators and President
Mitchell and other representatives OF
the United Mine Workers. The opera
tors say they have heretofore hesi-
tated about making public this cor
respondence. "The president of the
United States" they said, having re-
quested Mr.. Wright. the commissioner
of labor, to investigate the strike, the
presidents of the coal companies have
given him such facts as he desired, in
cluding this correspondence, and It isl
now given to the public
The operators preface the cores
pondence with a brief history of the
unionizing OF the anthracite coal min
ers after the establishment Of the
United Mine Workers. originally an or
ganization of bituminous coal miners.
and recite the agreement to an advance
OF 10 per cent in wages in 1901, follow
ing the strike Of 1900; the adjustment
OF the sliding scale, and finally the in
vitation of February IA, 1902 to the
operators to a joint conference TO form
a wage scale for the ensuing year Then
the text of the letters and kilograms
are introduced.
The first letter on the list is that OF
President Baer, OF the Reading Rail-
road. dated Philadelphia, February IS.
1902. and adressed as We're all replies,
of the operators to "John Mitchell,
president. and others" at indianapolis.
In part Mr. Baer says:
Gentlemen beg to acknowledge
the receipt of your favor of February
IA. inviting this company to be repre-
sented at joint conference of opera
tors and miners on March ~, the object
Of the conference TO be the formation
OF wage scale for the year beginning
April i, 1902. and ending March 81.
1903. and in which you express the
hope that the methods employed by
the miners organization in adjusting
the wage scale in all districts where II
is recognized and contracted with will
commend themselves to u.s. In the
Judgment of the companies l represent
it is impracticabie to form a wage
scale for the whole anthracite regian.
The mining Of anthracite coal is en-
tirely different from that of bimminous
coal. The distinction between the BIZ
luminous and anthracite mines is re-
cognized in the ksnnsylvania laws
regulating mining. which have been en-
acted primarily at the solicitation OF
the mine workers. Special laws are
created for each.
"We will always receive and consid-
er every application.o the men in our
employ. We will endeavor to correct
every abuse. to right every wrong. TO
deal justly and fairly with them The
objection to your proposition is not
alone the impracticability of forming
a uniform scale Of wages, but Il is to
the divided allegiance Il creates. Dis
cipline is essential in the conduct of
all business. Your organizations have
thereby insure discipline. and we have
no powers to maintain discipline ex-
cept the power TO discharge.
"A careful analysis Of the results of
last years operations shows that the
efficiency OF our mines has decreased
100000 tons. because the contract
miners have worked only four and one.
half to six hours a day.
With no disposition 10 interfere
with labor organizations in all honest
efforts to better the welfare and condi.
tion of the working classes. we re.
spectfully decline to JOIN in any con.
ference for the formation Of a wag,
scale for the next year.
GEORGE f. BAER."
The replies Of the other OPERATOR
follow the same lines. and all decline
TO join In any conference for the for
nation Of a wage scale. The OPERATOR
also claim that to grant an increase il
wages would result in the further ad
vance in the price of coal to the pub
lie, which is impracticable owing I,
the competition OF soft coal. They offer
ed TO allow miners representatives Z,
examine their books, and after sayinl
that the anthracite mining is ? bust
ness and not a religious. sentimenta
or philanihropic proposition. refuses
all suggestions for arbi ration.
Read the Evening Journal for n,