Evening journal., 1903-04-21
UNION LEADERS
TO END DISPUTE
Will Meet in Wilkesbarre
for Purpose Of Naming
Cancellation Committee
PRESIDENT MITCHELL TO PRESIDE

Wilkesbarre, Pa, April 21. - The
icenes of the great coal strike of last
hummer and fall we're recalled at Hotel
Hart where the leaders OF the Mine
Workers Union gathered to discuss the
features Of the recent award and to ap-
point a committee on conciliation,
which was provided for by the coal
commission to settle any dispute that
might arise in the Interpretation Of its
findings.
Nearly all the mine workers who
were prominent in the miners move
ment since 1900 were present but as
District President T. d. Nichols ex-
pressed it eve are gathering for peace
this time not for war" The members
of the three executive boards arrived
here during the day. President Mitchell
being the last to reach here.
This is the first meeting of Mr..
Mitchell and the three district boards
of the anthracite coal fields since the
end of the strike and from the pres
ent outlook there will be considerable
business to be disposed of, principally
I'm the adjustment Of grievances which
vary in each of the three districts. In
the wyoming distsrict the dispute is
over the Interpretation of the nine-hour
work day as regards the drivers and
j other company hands, and when the
work hours should begin The COM
panies hold that the drivers must be in
the mine and have the mules harnessed
80 the miners can commence work at
Z o'clock a. m, work to begin at that
time The drivers claim that the work
hours should begin with their duties
In Harvesting the animalss, and not a
half hour before the miners start to
work.
President Dettery, of District No. 3,
says: "The companies persist in vio-
lating this section of the award and
make the company hands work from
91k to 10 hours for 9 hours pay. We
have no trouble" he said, lin any of
the other points in the commission's s
award except with the one which gives
us permission to place check weighmen
at the collieries. The companies, par
tlcularly Coke Bros, claim we have
not the right. We referred the officials
4 to a section Of the award which reads
! as follows:
= That whenever requested by ma
= jority Of contract miners of any col
, liery, check weighmen or check dock
ing bosses shall be employed Tn,
wages of said check weighmen Of
, check docking bosses shall be fixed, col
r lected and paid by the miner
e I'VE are willing to do this, but th'
! company objects to one being placed il
D the breaker. There are many minoi
J matters that require adjustment, bu
those are the most important"
The most serious condition that ex
lists in the ninth district (Schuylkil
region), according to the statement o
District Secretary George Hartlein, il
I that there are nearly 10000 miner
e who are practically locked out. Thi
2 trouble also grew out of the nine-hou
work day According to his saying
Q the miners union is today in the yer,
best condition, never better in its his
tory, and it is a rare exception to flint
man around the mines now who /
not a member of the union. He hope
the Cancellation committee will brin
peace and good will to all
President Mitchell appeared please
\ to return TO Wilkesbarre. He informe
to newspaper men that the conference
of the three executive boards woul
end tonight or tomorrow and the ses
sions would be private