The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-05
COAL OPERATOR
MAKES ANSWER
John Markle Replies to Charges
Made Against Firm.
AGITATORS ARE BLAMED
CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO
EVICTIoNS ARE RELATED.

! Philadelphia. Jan. 4-The answer Of
/ c. 3. Markle & Co, independent coal
! operators, to the demands of the min
ers was made public here today. and
viii be submitted 10 The strike com
mission when 1t reassembIes in this
/ city tomorrow. The answer was writ
ten by John Markle, managing partner
of the firm
/ 1t says that the mines, which are
worked under thirty-year lease dat
! ing back to 1890 employ 2,4OO men. A
| physician and assistants, who are paid
| by subscriptions from the men, are al
ways on the premises, while a nurse
| is employed by Mrs. Markle. Stores for
/ the sale of general merchandise are
J maintained for the accommodation of
/ the men, but they are not required to
/ deal there The answer says that de-
mands We're presented by the miners in
( 1897, when an agreement to settle diff
| ferenceS by arbitration existed between
/ the miners and the company.
/ work at the mines says the an
swer, continued uninterrupted until
\ the latter part of 1900. when John
| Mitchell made his headquarters at
HazletOn and endeavored to organize
l the Markle employees.
In September. 1900 another list of
| grievances was presented and the COM
/ pany agreed to arbitrate, but the men
struck before their grievances had
been submitted to arbitration. Finally
differences were adjusted and the men
returned to work on Oct. %. 1907
The answer continues; From that
time until the strike was declared last
May the condition of labor in our
mines was altogether unsatisfactory"
Thought Men Satisfied.
The answer says that between 1900
and 1902 many requests were made for
the correction of alleged grievances,
which were all taken up and consid-
cred and acted upon; but neither indi-
vidually nor collectively, orally or in
writing did the men make any COM
plant in reference to the method of
collecting the duties for the doctors,
NOR was attention called to any defect
! in respect to ventilation or unfair
( treatment at the store, nor as to the
size of the cars, nor as to the slope
cleaning nor the docking until April
1902, and We had every reason TO be-
heve that, taken as n whole. the men
were entirely satisfied with the condi-
tons of their employment.
In the course of the hearings at
Scranton, complaint was made of the
size OF the cars. but in reality the size
has not been changed, as Will be
proven by the testimony of the build
ers, who will be produced. 1t was also
alleged that the docking was excessive.
but the accountant will testify that it
was less than = per cent. Objection was
also made that the full 10 per cent adj
vance was not given. The manner in
which the advance was computed was
repeatedly explained to the men, and
IL VIII be shown by the expert account
ant that it was correctly calculated
Trouble Over Resuming Work.
Referring to the appointment of the
commission, Mr.. Markle says.
AS we had not been parties to the
correspondence under which the an
thracite strike commission was ap-
pointed and the strike declared off. we
We're not willing to permit our men to
return to work without distinct IN
Outstanding that they would abide bv
the award TO be made by the commits
sion Notice was accordingly posted
that those wishing to secure employ
ment should call at the Office and bring
with them the brass checks which they
mad When this notice was posted we
were informed that some Of the men
objected on the ground that men
should be taken back in a body, and
the rumor was started TO the effect
that they would be required to sign an
ircnclad agreement as a condition of
going to work.
Many of the notices were torn down,
pickets were stationed in the neigh /
DorhoOd Of the Office and along the
INES OF the road to prevent the men
coming to the office, where they might
nave devined the truth and arranged /
for resumption of work.
Meanwhile had been informed that /
the same men who had been making
trouble during the strike were taking 1
a leading part In intifpidatiue and 4
threatening anyone coming to the Of /
ice and returning to work under the 1
conditions specified. On the morning
Of Monday, Oct q 1902, I ordered no. I
tee to give up possession of the houses Z
10 be served upon twelve men who /
had been active in preventing the men /
from resuming work No attempt was i
made to collect the arrears OF rent
which had accrued during the strike.
and the notice to quit, having been
served Oct p, judgment in ejectment /
was entered Nov. and the parties /
evicted on Nov S, 1902"
The net earnings of the evicted men