BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-09-24
SAF( JUAN, SEPTEMBER "a
Cancellation In The
Coal Trouble.

COdl lIOllOlG.
The current number of Golfers
Weekly" (Septenber Io) has commit
nica:ion from Mr. John Mitchell, Presi.
dent of the United Mine Workers OF
America, submitting the case of the
miners in the present strike in the an
thracite region. He says. first that the
proposition which he laid before the
four railroad presidents on the 9Th OF
May last, embodying the demands of
the miners, was never given to the pub
lie by them, or by himself, until now.
Since the whole controversy rests upon
that proposition, we reprint it verbatim:
"Inasmuch ~as the anthracite nine
operators have proposed to continue the
present wage scale for one year, and
inasmuch as the anthracite mine wor-
kers have unanimously resolved to, ask
that an increase Of 20 per cent should
be paid on present prices to all
men performing contract work, that
eight hours should constitute a days
labor for al persons employed by the
hour day, or week, without any reduc-
tion in their present wage rate, and
that coal sholld be weighed and paid
for by weight wherever practicable; and
inasnuch as in Our recent conferences
anthracite mine workers and mine ope-
rators have failed to reach an agree.
ment upon any of the questions at
issle. we propose that the Industrial
Brauch Of the National Civic Fedora
tioa select a committee Of five persons
to arbi.rase and decide all OF any Of the
questions in dispute the award OF such
board ofarhitration to be binding upon
both parties and effective for q period
OF one year >.
In case this offer should be nnaccep-
table, MI Mitchell proposed that CON-
mittee, consisting Of Archbishop Ire
land, Bishop Potter, and one other per-
=.sar- 70 be selected By them shol1ld be
authorized to make an investigation
into the wages and conditions Of en-
ployment existing in the anthracite
field, in order 10 decide whether the
mine work rs We're able TO make de
cent living for their families and to
bring up their children properly, upon
the compensation now paid to them,
both sides to conform to any recommen-
dations that such committee might
make. To these alternative PROPOSE
tions, he says, no answer was received,
except an informal intinlation that there
was IL othing 10 arbitrate.
The reasons why the railroad presi-
dents declined the propositions were
made pubic b. President Baer Of the
Reading Cnmpany on The 3rd of Sep
tember, Just seventeen weeks after the
event, in a communica ion. rot TO Mr.
Mitchell or 70 the miners but to Sena
tors Quay and Pentose Of Pennsylvania,
who had begin to fear the political con
sequences OF the strike on the coming
fall elections Careful comparison Of
this statement with Mr. Mitche1is paper
in "Collier's Wc2l<Iy shogs that all
points of difference be.w zen the con-
tending parties are susceptible Of ad
justmsnt except one-the q leslion o
pay for mining coal.
President Baer says that the coal ope-
rators do not object 10 labcr organiza-
tions, but that they will not allow such
organizations TO dictate who shall be
employed. or not employed, in the mi
mes; that is, they will not recognize the
union, Mr. Mitchell, on the other hand, |
denies point-blank that any formal de-
nland mas been made by the miners
for recognition of the union. From
the language used we might infer that
an informal demand had been made,
but until SO assured we must cast that
factor out OF the ease-NIr Hewitt to
the contrary Notwithstanding. Mr. Nit.
chell goes on to say IN ltalic letters that
!" the real purpose of the coal operators
In refusing to cooperate with US, with
view to ending this strike, is TO DESTROY
organization among their WoIkInen - ,
an averinent which Mr. Baer denies as
as Mr. Mitchell denies the
inslnuation laat the miners demand the
exclusion Of non-union men. Every
thing. therefore. relating 10 the miners
and to nolunion men may
be discarded. Is
Mr. MitehelIs demand for higher pay s
for mining is divided into two parss
FIRST, that men VAC are paid by the ton &
shall have an increase of 20 per cent,
and that for all persons who are paid q
by the da eight hours (iustead of ten)l
shall constitute a days work, without
any reduction In their present wage
'ate. The latter class would get no c
more money than they get now, but &
hey would have rnors leisure This il
reeds explanation. It may be the aim 0
4 the miners Organization here toItl
make room for greater number ot "
sb3rers, bat i is csrtain that the eco. =
omic condition of the present occup- n
ats Of the places would not be i1nprov- II