The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-17

Will not secure to the men now work
ing, and all now or hereafter wishing
to work, whether they belong to the
niue workers. union or not, the right
and opportunity to work in safety
and without personal insult or bodily
harm to themselves or their families.
For these reasons the arbitrations
heretofore proposed have been de
oiined.
1t will be remembered that at the
conference in Washington October 8,
we, made the following offer: That
we would take up at each colliery
any alleged grievance, and in the
event of failure to make satisfao.
tory adjustment of the questions at
issue to be submitted to the final
decision of the judges of the court
OF common pleas of the district in
which the colliery is located. This
offer was made by us in good faith
and we desire here to reatfim it.
The coal companies realize that
the urgent public need Of coal, and
the apprehension of an inadequate
supply for the approaching winter
calls for an earnest effort to reach
practical conclusion which will re.
suit in an increased supply, and the
presidents of the companies desire
to make every effort to that end
which docs not involve the aban
donment of the interests committed
to their care aud of the men who are
working and seeking to work in
their mines. This responsibility
they must bear and meet as best
they can.
THE OPERATORS PROPOSITION.
They therefore restate their posi-
tion: That they are not discriminate
ing against the United Mine Work
ersss but they insist that the miners
union shall not discriminate against
1r refuse to work with non union
men; that there shall be no restric-
ton or deterioration in quantity or
quality If wolk, and that owing to
the varying physical conditions of
the anthracite mines each colliery is
a problem by itself.
We suggest commission be ap
pointed by the President of theUnited
States Gf he is willing to perform
that public service) to whom shall
be referred all questions at issue be-
tween the respective companies and
their own employees, whether they
belong to union or not, and the
decision of that commission shall be
accepted by us.
The commission to be cons ituted
dS lOllOWS.
/. Au officer in the engineer corps
of either the military or naval ser.
vice of the United States.
2. An expert mining engineer, ex-
perienced in the mining of coal and
other minerals, and not in any way
connected with coal mining proper
ties, either anthracite or bituminous.
3. One Of the judges of the United
States courts of the eastern district
of Pennsylvania.
4. A man of prominence, eminent
as sociologist.
3. A man who, by active partici.
patton in mining and selling coal, is
familiar with the physical and COM
mercial features of the business.
WILL BE IMMEDIATELY EFFECTIVE.
1t being understood Immediately
upon the constitution of the COM
mission in order that idleness and
non production may cease instantly,
the miners will return to work and
cease all interference with and per.
secution of any non union men who
are working or shall hereafter work.
The findings Of this commission shall
fix the date when the same shall be
EFFECTIVE, and shall govern the con
ditions Of employment between the
respective companies and their own
employees for term of at least three
years.
George Il. Baker, president Phila
delphia and Reading Coal and Iron
company, Lehigh and Wilkesbarre
Coal company and Temple Iron com
pany.
e. B. Thomas, chairman Penn.