Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-11
MADE PUBLIC.
Correspondence Of Miners and
Managers Given Out.
Commissioner Wright and President
Mitchell Have Meeting.
Settlement of Great Strike Still Afar
OFF.


Labor Commissioner Carroll ID. Wright
went to Tarrytown, n. Y, Tuesday, TO
attend the commencement exercises OF
the Hackley Hall school, of which he is
a trustee. Tuesday afternoon, he will
call on. President Truesdale of the
Lackaw anna Railroad, Pres. Olyphante
of the Delaware G. Hudson Co, and
any of the other railroad presidents
that may be in the city to secure fur
Their information for Pres. Roosevelt
on the coal strike.
In the late afternoon, Commissioner
Wright had a two-hours conference
with President Baer of the Philadelphia
& Reading Railroad, President Oily
phant of the Delaware & Hudson Co,
and Pres TruesdaIe of the Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western Railroad.
Mr. Wright said that the books had
been opened and he had secured all
facts and figures and now had Sulii-
cient information of both sides which
would probably not necessitate his 60
ing to the coal fields. He declared the
investigation as practically over He
said he expected to spend the evening
with friends and would hold no con-
ference.
The presidents of the coal roads, i'm
mediately affected by the strike OF the
anthracite coal miners, made public, TO-
day, letters which have passed between
the operators and President Mitchell
and other representatives of the United
Mine Workers in reply to the invita-
ton of Feb. IA to the operators TO q
Joint conference to form "a wage scale
The operators say they have here
tofore hesitated about making public
this correspondence. The President Oh
the United States" they add, having
reonested Mr.. Wright, the commissioner
of labor. to investigate the strike, the
presidents of the coal companies nave
given him such facts as he desired, in
GLIDING this correspondence.
The first letter IN reply to the invita-
ton on the list is that of President
Baer of the Central Railroad of New
Jersey, declining to join in the confer
ence. dated Philadelphia, Feb. IS, 1907,
and addressed as were all replies. the
operators say, to John Mitchell. Pres
ident. and Others at indianapolis. MI.
Baer contends that it is impractlcaple
to formulate a wage scale in the an
thracite region, as in the bituminous,
because of the marked difference be-
tween the two methods of mining. Mr..
Raer goes on to say that the company
he represents does not favor the plan
of having it's relations with its miners
disturbed every year. There cannot,
ne saws. "be two masters in the MAIL
agement of business. Discipline in man.
agement is essential and discipline Is
;mpossible where the employee relies
on some outside power to sustain MN
in disobeying reasonable orders
President Truesdale of the Lacka-
wanna, replied in the same strain an
declined to attend the conference
President L. b. Thomas of the Erie,
replied most emphatically repudiaths
the right of the Union to interfere. he
said the effect of the miners organlza-
ton has been to create a spirit OF I'M
rest and a marked depreciation IN the
uuantity of work. There have, ne says
been Interruptions of work occasiohed
nv unvarranted demands and agitation
resulting in the loss OF over 9"o aaS
of work and over 600, 900 tons of produc-
ton from April TO Oct. l. says Ni''
Thomas:
eft is the inalienable right OF a man
n labor. and this without regard 10
nationality. creed or association. 10
cock to prevent is crime. ana We
cannot. even by implication, SANCTION
such a CcurS"
This company prefers to deal with
its own employees
The replies of President Il. T. fo"ler
of the Ontario & Western anu /. W.
oIyphant Of the Delaware d tiudSoh'
and Alfred Walter, OF the LehiSh VAL
Iev are brief. and in line with the
others.
The history of the strike from me
Sbamolin convention to May IS theh
outlined, and the following IS gwen as
nropositions by Mr.. Thomas
understood to be the basis OF the
first conference Of the coal operators
and the mine workers and civic federa-
ton officials.
"1st. The anthracite companies do not
undertake in the slightest manner 10
discriminate against members Oh the
limited Miners of America. but they 40
insist that members Of that organlza =
ton shall not discriminate against nor
decline to work with non-members of
such association.
.'2nd-That there shall be no deter
ioration in the quantity or quality oil
the work; and that there shall be no
effort to restrict the individual exer-
lions of men who, working by the ton
or car. may for reasons satisfactory 10
themselves and their employers, pro-
ducc such quantity of work as they
may desire.
"3rd-By reason of the different
conditions, varying not only with the
districts but with the mines themselves,
thus rendering absolutely impossible
anything approaching uniform condi-
tons each mine must arrange either
individually or through its committees
with the superintendent or managers
any questions affecting wages or
grievances
The first discussion, the adjournment
for 80 days. and the two futile and
final discussions between the union
leaders and the operators represented
by Messrs. Thomas, Truesdale and
Raer are mentioned. Mr.. Mitchells
dispatch of May Sth, in which he pro-
poses that. in view of the failure of any
agreement resulting from the discus
sion up to that time. the industrial
branch of the civic federation select a
committee of five to arbitrate and de-