New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-13
NORECOGNITION OF UNION
FIRM STAND TAKEN BY THE ANrHRA-
CITE OPERATORS
MINERS DEMANDS REsIsTED-REPLIEs
FROM FIVE MORE COMPANIES.

MINERS DEMANDS REsISTED-REPLIEs
FROM FIVE MORE COMPANIES
washington. Nov. l2.-That the anthracite mine
owners viii resist to the utmost every effort to make
,be recognition of the United Mine Workers of
america an in the arbitration which is now in
ogres is made evident by the replies to the state
,snt Of President John Mitchell Of the miners or
ranizaton which have been filed with the Strike
commission. There are five OF these answers in
edition TO that Of President Baer. which was
made public yesterday and all dwell with especial
emphasis and marked unanmity on this point.
They also agree in resisting the demands of the
miners for an increase Of pay for piece work re-
duction OF hours for time work and for the weigh
tng rather than the measurement of coal.
Recorder Wright went TO the anthracite regions
to-day. taking these replies with him. In addi-
ton 70 the statement made for the Reading Com
many BY President Baer. the list comprises the
plies Of the Delaware and Hudson Company, the
Delaware Lackawanna and Western. the Lehigh
valley. the Pennsylvania and the Scranton Coal
Company.
LACKAWANNA CoMPANY'S STATEMENT.
The reply Of the Delaware Lackawanna and
Western company is signed by President Trues-
dale who says that the company owns twenty-five
anthracite collieries and employs twelve thousand
workmen in this branch OF its business Mr.. Trues-
Gale like Mr. Baer. objects to making the recogni-
ton Of the union Of the issues to be considered
by the commission, saying that in the proposition
made by the company for arbitration OF the
press conditions was that the findings Of the COM
mission should govern the conditions of employment
between Il and its employees" He adds:
This company unequivocally asserts that it will
under no condition recognize or enter into any
agreemIeIn5t with the ASSOCIATION known as the
United Mine " orkers or America or any branch
thereof Nor vii Il permit sad association or its
which II shall conduct its business.
Mr. Truesdale says that he is informed that 50 PER
cent Of his company's employees were opposed 10
the strike but were forced TO enter it by majority
vote Of the mine workers in other fields. Mr.. Trues
dale follows closely the lines Of Mr.. Baer's argu-
Enent as TO the dissimilarity between the work in
anthracite and bituminous mines. He declares that
Il is impossible to adopt uniform rate TO be paid
to the miners for unit OF coal at all mines. The
declaration also IS made that the anthracite miners,
as a rule do not work as many hours day the
bituminous miners, and the opinion is expressed
that the wages of the anthracite miners had been
less than those OF other Workingmen they would
have found employment elsewhere. which they did
do. On the point OF general prosperity he says
thar before the introduction of agitators and mis-
chief makers the anthracite workers were
average as prosperous, comfortable and contented
any body OF workers in similar employment in
this country. The wages IL is added are such that
frugal employees have saved substantial amount
every year.
aIr. Truesdale resists the demand for reduc-
ton Of 20 per cent in the hours OF labor. saying
that no branch OF business employing thousands OF
men can hope 10 compete successfully in the mar
kets Of the world II its hours OF labor are re-
etricted He declares that there is no unjust dis
elimination n the weighing Of COAL as ii is meas
Ired rather than weighed and asserts that the de-
uaand is out OF ali reason, and its effect, far as
this company is concerned. is demand for an ad-
ditional increase IN the wages now paid miners Of
from 40 per cent" The present method OF
measurement is declared TO be the result of long
usage and TO De fair TO all concerned
DELAWARE AND HUDSoNs ANSWER.
President Olyphant. OF the Delaware and Hud-
son Company, declares that the wages paid by his
company just and adequate He also says that
those OF its employees who perform contract or
piece work, as a matter OF their own Voliton
work only about six hours g day. and take numer-
hoays Tth 0g The or b1 hoGTs OF
actual work are. theretore mpcn hlgher thah
All the allegations in CONNECTION with the demand
-bsr eIIcb a reduction would increase the price
q coal While admitting that the mine owners
thus sold is different article from that taken
ogt q ne nine enfe ne Go az ag i 20 t 5
OF paying by the President Olyphant also
question OF the recognition OF the miners union.
on the ground that the organization seeks 70 con
-rol the entire fuel supply Of the country; that as
The union is Incorporated. il is incapable OF
making binding contracts and that the associa-
members de says his company has no desire TO
President T. P Fowler speaks for the scranton
company He says they own ten collieries and
employ i've thousand men. He asserts that II the
are less than those workers IN other empoy
II IS because they FIX their hours OF labor
and the amount OF their earnings without any re-
gard the interests or wishes OF their employers
Ind in total disregard Of the earnings and welfare
Of every other class OF employees.
He declares that the men IN the mines 90 not
work 10 exceed Iour five hours a day: All other
charges made by Mr.. Mitchell are combated ana
On the question OF miners unions Mr.. Fowler says:
We deny thar agreements between employers and
employees through wOrEingmen's ORGANIZATIONS are
beneficial and successful IN the Ditumlnous coal
helcs or elsewhere and assert that any such agree
nenr as a method OF regulating production would
De and is injurious 10 the best interests OF the
public"
Replies OF the Lehigh Valley and the Pennsyl-
vania companies cover the same ground as the
nther statenents.