The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-17

opcring statement, which I think will
cover the matter very fully.
A Long Question.
g. You think it does I read it, and
it did not seem to me to be such a pro-
position as we could intelliGently dis
cuss, l will read it again, and if it is, !
will be glad to say SO. Now, your rea-
sons in support of that demand that we
should make an agreement with YOU are
first that they should not be compelled
to make or sign individual agreements,
but should have the right to form such
organizations and choose such agents
and officers as they desire, to act collec-
lively instead of individually whenever
they deem that their best interests are
subserved thereby. AS to that, l am in
cordial agreement with you. As ] stated
in the beginning, l have not the slightest
Gesire to interfere with the right of any
employees to form an association and to-
he represented by such of their number
and by such outside assistants as they
sec proper to secure-yourself, or any
body elSe--to assist them in the adjust
nent of any grievances of which they
complain. Your second reason Is that
agreements between employers and en-
ployes through workingmen's orSaniza-
tiCns, and the ordinary method of regu-
latinr production and wages in the BIZ
luminous coal fields and in other large
industries are beneficial, successful, and
In keeping with the spirit of the times
ana your third Is: Unions of working
men tend to the better discipline of the
men and to the Improvement of their
physical, moral and mental condition,
and TO the preservation of friendly rela-
tiunS between employer ana employee;
and your fourth is: Experience shows
that the trade agreement is the only ef-
fective method by which 1t Is possible
to regulate questions arising between
EMPLOYER and employed in large indus
tries, and that Il trade agreement is the
only possible way to establish the rela-
tions between employers and the wage
workers in the anthracite field on Just
and permanent basis and as Iar as pos
sible to do away with any causes for tho
recurrence of such difficulties as those
the present anthracite coal commission
have been called in to settle, No, there
is nothing in that Mr., Mitchell, distinct
" declaring that we mustsbe parties to n
partnership with the United Mine Work
ers of America, and l wish to ask You
whether that is one of the demands YOU
make upon us? a. Yes.
The Chairman; What is one of the de-
mands?
Mr.. MacVeaGh: That we should enter
into Il definite agreement with the
United Mine Workers of America, and
not enter into such trade agreements as
are sketched in these reasons.
A. There are four demands, four issues
in the strike. One of them is that AN
agreement be made, that the wages and
conditions of employment be incorporated
in an agreement between the organization
and the operators. You stated in your eN-
animation i'm chief that your agreements
with the bituminous coal operators had
worked successfully and tremendously.
A. Yes, sir
q. And that the operation of them fur
nished the best possible reasons why the
owners of the two companies we represent
should be asked to enter into like agree
ment? A, Yes, sir.
@. You further stated that the only diff
flculties that had arisen under those
agreements was as to the legal construc-
ton Of some of their phrases, and that
they had been settled amicably between
the parties2 A. There has been Very little
difference Q. And what there was was
confined TO the construction of the lam
Guage of the agreement2 A, No, |
say that at times there has been
differences of opinion as the the
Interpretation of these agreements.