The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-13
THEY'LL FIGHT THIS
ISSUE TO The DEATH
Coal Barons' Teeth SetAgainst
Recognizing Union.
SIX HAVE NOWMADEREPLY
They Resist Demands for Increase in Pay for
Piect- Work, Reduction Of Hours for
Tiae- Work and for the Weighing
of Coal.
of Coal.
By the Associated Press.)

NDy the Associated GTeSS.J
Washington, d. c., Nov. 12.-That the
anthracite coal mine owners will resist
to the utmost every effort to make the
recognition of the United Mine Workers
of America an issue in the arbitration
which is now in progress is made evil
dent by the replies to the statement of
President Mitchell, of the miners organ
ization, which have been filed with the
Strike Commission. There are five of
these answers in addition to that of
President Baer, which was given out
yesterday, and all dwell with especial
emphasis and I&lrked unanimity on this
point. They also agree in resisting the
demands Of the miners for an increase of
pay for piecework 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 today, taking these replies
with him. In addition to the statement
made for the Reading Company by
President Baer, the list comprises the
replies of the Delaware and Hudson
Company, the Delaware and Dacka-
wanna, the Lehigh Valley, the Penn
sylvania, and the Scranton Coal Com
pany The reply for the Delaware and
Lackawanna Company signed by w. H.
Truesdale, says;
"This company unequivocally asserts
that it will under no condition, recog-
nize or enter into any agreement with
the association known as the United
Mine Workers of America or any branch
thereof Nor will it permit said associa-
tion or its officers. to dictate the terms
and conditions under which it shall con-
duct its business"
Mr.. Truesdale declares that it is i'm
possible to adopt a uniform rate to be
paid to the miner for unit of coal
mined at all mines. On the point of
general prosperity he says that prior to
the introduction of agitators and mis-
chief makers the anthracite workers
We're on an average as prosperous, COM
Portable and contented as any body or
workers in similar employment in this
country" The wages, it is added, are
such that frugal employees have saved
substantial amount every year.
Mr.. Truesdale resists the demand for
a reduction of 20 per cent. in 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 Olyphant, of the Delaware
and 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
matter of their own volition, work only
about six hours a day and take numer-
Gus holidays, without the consent or ap-
proval of this respondent, and their
earnings, by hours of actual work are,
therefore, much higher than those in any
similar employment.
President Olyphant also takes excep-
tion to the proposition to arbitrate the
question of the recognition of the min
ers' 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 incorpo-
rated it is incapable of making a bind
ing contract.
President 7. p Fowler speaks for
the Scranton Coal Company and the
Elkhill Coal and Iron Company. lie as
serts that if the average wages earned
by the anthracite piece-workers is less
than paid to workers in other employ
ment it is because they fix their own
hours of labor and the amount of their
earnings!
On the question of miners unions, Mr..
Fowler says
I'VE deny that agreements between
employers and employees through work
ingmen's organizations are beneficial and
successful in the bituminous coal fields
or elsewhere, and assert that every such
agreement as a method of regulating
production would be and is Injurious to
the best interests of, the public"
The statements for the Lehigh Valley
and the Pennsylvania companies cover
the same ground as the other statements.