The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-04
Operators on Cancellation Board
Refuse to Treat With District
Presidents as Such.
WORKERS TO MEET JyNE is.
Suspension of Work Until Matters
in Dispute Are Satisfactorily
Arbitrated Is to Be
Brought to Vote.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Wilkesbarre. Pa. June 3-The United
Mine Workers district boards adjourned
this afternoon after arranging to call a
joint convention of the mine workers in
Pottsvtle on June Is 10 determine whether
a general suspension Of work shall he or
dered until the operators agree to recognize
District Presidents Nichols. Fafey and
Dettry as members OF the Cancellation
Board.
While this was being decided superin-
terients Luthe,. Warmer and Cornell the
operators members of the Cancellation
Board. after several hours conference over
the long-disiance telephone. agreed 10 issue
a statement.
This declares that the sole trouble is due
to their decision not TO recognize the three
district presidents as members of the union.
II Is on this point that the dispute rests.
The operators statement is:
Referring to the official announcement OF
the representatives, OF the United Nine
Workers Of America, as given in this morn
!ng's press. the contention OF operators rep
reseriatives elected to the Board of Concil-
iation is that the recognition Of the United
Mine Workers of America was not one OF
the questions submitted 70 the commission
for decision; that Mr. Mitchell admitted this
by appearing before the commission simply
as representative Of the anthracite mine
workers: that the award Of the commission
specifically asserted that the recognition Of
the United Mine Worke-s' Union of Amer
lea as at present constituted was inadvisa-
bic. that award No. 1. providing for the
Board OF Cancellation. lays down certain
rules for the appointment of members Of
said board.
NO OBJECTIONS.
Representatives of the operators have
been appointed strictly within the terms
of said award and there is no objection on
their part TO cordially accepting Messrs.
Nichols. Dettry and Fahey as the repre-
sentatives OF the miners. providing they
are elected by a majority Of the mine
workers as specified in the award of the
commission. The objection is solely against
their aPsaTng as , the o1Hslal representa-
ca. appointed by an executive committee
without authority for such appointment
The operators representatives feel that It
Is highly important that the formation of
the board OF Cancellation be accepted by
both interested parties as strictly in &C
cordance with the award Of the commits
ceived without question and not be open
to the criticism of having been made by
a board not fully qualified to act:
fSigned by w L. CONNEL1A
r. c. LUTHER.
"S. D. wARRINER."
The fact that the operators thus plainly
ing with the three district presidents IL they
are elected by the mine workers. will not
in the slightest measure change the action
OF the boards to-day. The members consider
that the district presidents were legally
chosen 10 represent the nlire workers on the
board. and say that no attention will be
paid the operators statement. as 1t is the
same thing they said 20 the district presi-
dents at the conference last week when
they refused 10 officially recognize them.
This attitude. they declare. is absurd. and
they will submit To change in their
plans dictated by such cause. Tonight, in
support Of their position, they issued a
statement calling for a convention. There
was no minority on the District Board IN
the decision to call joint convention. All
believed il the best and quickest way to
compel the operators to meet the mine
workers members of the conciliation
boards. and TO end the disputes which have
existed since the finding Of the strike COM
mission.
Despite the present determined front of
the mine workers. men who are close to
them DO not believe that work will be sus-
pended.