The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-13
COAL MAGNATES
FILE ANSWERS
viii Resist Every Effort to Rec.
ognize Miners Union.
TRUESDALE MAKES A THREAT
MAY DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF
THE STRIKE COMMISSION.

urASHINGTON. Nov. 12.-That the
w anthracite coal mine owners viii
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 prog
ress is made evident by the replies to
the statement of President John Mitch
ell of the miners organization, which
has been filed with the strike commits
sion. 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
marked unanimity on this point. They
also agree in resisting the demands Of
the miners for an increase of pay for
piece work, 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
of the Reading company by President
Baer, the list comprises the replies of
the Delaware & Hudson company, the
Lackawanna, the Lehigh Valley, the
Pennsylvania and the Scranton Coal
company.
Truesdale's Reply.
The reply of the Delaware & Lacka-
wanna Railway company to President
Il. TrueSdale, president, who says that
the company owns twenty-five anthra-
cite collieries and employs II, 900 work
men in this branch Of its business. Mr.
Truesdale like Mr.. Baef, objects to
making the Reorganization Of the union
one of the issues to be considered By
the commission, saying that in the
proposition made by the company for
arbitration one OF the express condi-
tons was that the findings of the
commission should govern the condi-
lions OF employment between it and its
employees" He adds:
Ihis company unequivocally as
serts that ii will under no condition
recognize 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 association or its officers to die
tate the terms and conditions under
which it shall conduct its business"
Follows Baer's Argument.
Referring to the recent strike, Mr..
TrueSdale says he is reliably informed
that so per cent of the company's en-
plOyes were opposed to the strike, but
they were forced to enter upon it by a
majority vote of the mine workers in
other fields. Mr.. Truesdale follows
closely the lines of Mr.. Baer's argument
as TO the disSimilarity between the
work in the anthracite mines and that
in bituminOus mines. He declares that
1t is impossible to adopt a uniform rate
to be paid to the miner for unit of
coal mined at ali mines. The declara-
ton is also made that the anthracite
miners as a rule do not work as many
hours a day as do the bituminous
miners, and the opinion is advanced
that if the wages of the anthracite
miners had been less than that of 9TH
er workingmen they would have found
employment elsewhere, which they did
not do. He says that prior to the in
PRODUCTION of agitatOrs and mischief
makers the anthracite workers were
on an average as prosperous, comforta-
BILE and cOntented as any body Of work
ers of similar employment in this eoun-
try" The wages, it is added, are such
that many employees have saved a small
sum every year.
Mr.. Truesdale resists the demand for
q reduction of 20 per cent In hours of
labor, saying that no such branch of
business employing thousands of men
can hope TO compete successfully in
the markets Of the world if its hours of
labor are restricted. He declares that
there is no unjust discrimination in the
weighing of coal, as it is measured
rather than weighed, and he asserts
that the demand is "out of all reason,
and it's effect, so far as this company is
concerned. is a demand for an addi-
miners of from 5 to 40 per cent"
The present method of measurement
is declared to be the result of long
usage and fair to all concerned.
Oliphant's Answer.
President Oliphant of the Delaware
& Hudson company, in his reply de-
clares that the wages paid by his com
pany are just and adequate. He also
SAYS that chose of it's employees who
1r.f rafnn rrlVs1r q
matter of their own volition work only
about six hours a day and take numer-
Gus holidays, without the consent or
approval 1of this respondent, and their
earnings, by hours of actual work are,
therefore much higher than those in
any similar employment"
Denial is made of all the allegations
in connection with the demand for
shorter hours, and il is contended that
such a reduction necessarily would in
crease the price of coal. While admit
ting that the mine owners sell their
coal by the ton, he says that the coal
thus sold is very different article
from that taken out Of the mine. Hence
he contends against the change from
the present system Of payment to that
of paying by the ton.
President Oliphant also takes excep-
ton to the proposition to arbitrate the
question of the reorganization of the
Miners 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 I'M
incorporct ted it is incapable of making
binding contract, and that the asso-
citation has shown its inability to con-
troll its own members. He says his
company has no desire to discriminate
against members of the union.
FowIer's Contention.
President T. P. Fowler speaks for the
Scranton Coal company and the Elk
Hill Coal & Iron company. He as
serts that if the average wage earned
by the anthracite piece workers is less
than that paid to workers in other en-
ployment it is because they fix Their
own hours of labor and the amount OF
their earnings without any regard tC
the interests or wishes of their en-
ployers, and in total disregard of the
earnings and welfare of every other
class Of employees
He declares that the men in the
mines do not work to exceed four Oh
five hours a day. Ali other charge.
made by Mr.. Mitchell are combatted
and on the question Of miners unions
Mr.. Fowler says:
I'VE deny that agreements between
employers and employees through
worHngmen's organizations are ben
eficial and successful in the bituminou.