The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-05
MARKLE COMPANY ANSWERS


Continued from First Page)
nication from the miners. Work at the
mines continued uninterrupted until the
latter part of 1900, when John Mitchell
made his headquarters at Hazleton and
endeavored to organize the MarkIe en-
ployes.
In September, 1900, another list of
grievances was furnished the firm, the
company's answer being that If the
men were not satisfied with the reply
the officials would be willing to arbit-
rate. The next communication from
the men demanded arbitration, but the
committee selected by the employees re-
ported that the latter had broken their
agreement with the company by stri1-
ing before their grievances had been
submitted to arbtratio
Finally, on October q, 1900, a COM
mittee Of the men appealed to the firm
for an adjustment of the differences.
This was accomplished, and on Octo-
Der 20 work was resumed at the mines.
The answer further states:
Between 1900 and 1902 many requests
were made for the correction of alleged
grievances, which were all taken up
and considered and acted upon but
not either individually or collectively,
orally or in writing, did the men make
any complaint in reference to the meth
cd of collecting the dues for the doe
tors or the priests; nor was our atten-
ton called to any defect in respect to
ventilation or unfair treatment at the
stores; nor as to the size Of the cars;
nor as to the slope cleaning or the
docking, until April, 1902; and we had
every reason to believe that, taken as
whole, the men were entirely satisfied
with the conditions of their employ
ment.
Sin 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 proved
by the testimony of the builders, who
will be produced. 1t was also alleged
that the docking was excessive, but
the accountant will testify that it was
less than 2 per cent. Objection was al
so made that the full 10 per cent. was
not given. The manner in which the
advance was computed was repeatedly
SApleililcd " TIE IIICIl, anu IL Will NC
shown by the expert accountant that
it was correctly calculated
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 appoint
ed and the strike declared off, we were
not willing to permit our men to return
to work without a distinct understand
ing that they would abide by the award
to be made by the commission. Notice
was accordingly posted that those
wishing to secure employment should
call at the office and should bring with
them the brass checks which they held.
When this notice was posted, we were
informed that some of the men object
ed, upon the ground that the men
should be taken back in a body, and
the rumor was started to the effect that
they would be required to sign an iron
clad agreement, as a condition Of go
ing to work. Many of the notices We're
torn down. pickets were stationed in
the neighborhood of the office and
along the lines of the road, to prevent
the men from coming to the office
where they might have learned the
truth, and arranged for a resumption
Of work.