Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-26
AGREEMENT TO STAND
No Strike Of Coal Miners
Before Spring.
TERMS OF COMPACT
FEDERATION OF LABOR OFFICIAL
MAKES STATEMENT.
Nothing Short Of Violation Of Treaty
Nothing Short of Violation of Treaty
by the Operators Will Pro-
woke Rupture.

There will be strike of the anthra-
cite coal miners this winter.
If conditions should arise which, In the
Judgment of Mr.. John Mitchell, president,
and the other officers of the United Mine
Workers of America. would make a strike
necessary, such strike viii not take place
until after April, 1908, when the agreement
expires which is now in force between the
mine operators and mine workers.
This in effect, is the statement made to
Star reporter today by a high officer of
the workingmens trade congress--the
American Federation of Labor. 1t should
set at rest the baseless reports that have
been placed in circulation. The officer add
ed that the Federation would not stand
for violation of an agreement entered
into in good faith between any of it's af-
hllated bodies and the employers of labor"
Such an agreement is that between the
mine workers and the mine owners, it is
said. and to order strike owing to pros
pectiye conditions beyond the time limit of
the agreement, while it is yet In force
would be a.serious blow at the very foun-
dation on which the Federation is erected.
Hence, 1t was said, unless the terms of
the agreement are violated by the mine
operators. the officers of the United Mine
workers Will not order strike before
April 1 next
The demands of the mine workers how
ever. are being constantly urged by their
leaders. and will not be lost sight of for
moment by them. They are for an eight
hour day and for the official recognition by
the mine operators of the United Mine
Workers National Association.
To win these demands the workers will if
necessary, their leaders say, eventually
close down every anthracite mine. and per-
haps all othefs, in the United States. But
this will not be, if it is to be- until after
April 1, 1906.
President Roosevelt, in whose wisdom the
anthracite coal commission was created,
October 16, 1902, is sad to have received as
surances from John Mitchell and other
leaders of the mine workers tina. so long
as the compact was lived up to by the OPP
orators there would be no strike or dis
turEance.
No claim has been made, so far as is
known that the operators have viola ted
any clause or section of the agreement
that was framed by the anthracite coal
strike commission.
This statement of a responsible officer of
the American Federation of Labor will, 1t
is believed. he welcome news to the citizens
of Washington. who have been kept in
state of uncertainty concerning the fuel
outlook for the winter of 1905-o6 It will
have Il reassuring effect also on dealers in
the black diamonds" which were so
precious in the severe winter of 19o2-03,
when the situation heca me so acute that
President Roosevelt had to step into the
breach between m1le owner and miner.
No Reason for Advance.
Under the conditions above cited, large
local user OF coal said there is no reason
for any advance in the price of COAL as
there will be an ample supply for the cold
season. Neither is there any further oc-
cason for reports and rumors of great
strike of the miners OF of the shortness of
the coal supply. All indications at this
time, he added, point to normal conditions
in the coal market this fall and winter.
Work Of the Commission.
The anthracite coal strike commission was
appointed by President Roosevelt, October
16 1902, Eat the request of both the opera
tors and of the miners, to inquire into, con-
slider and pass upon the questions in con-
troversy in connection with the strike in
the anthracite regions of PENNSYLVANIA and
the causes out of which the controversy
arose"
At the time of its appointment the. most
terrible conditions We're prevalent as re-
suit of widespread coal famine. Thou
sands of people died from pneumonia and
other pulmonary diseases resulting from a
lack of warmth Coal oil, gasoline, gas,
briquettes and many substitutes for coal
were employed, until the point of despera-
ton had been reached, when President
Roosevelt appointed the famous coal COM
mission.
Under the caption, Life and Conditions
of the Awards" in the official report of
the commission. it is stated that the
awards herein made shall continue in
force until March 81, 1906 and that any
employee or group of employees violating
any of the provisions thereof shall be sub
ject to reasonable discipline by the en-
ployer; and further that the violation of
any of the provisions of these awards
either by employer or employees. shall not
invalidate any of the provisions thereof"
Moses September Furniture Sale.