Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-03
Mr.. GOMPERs REPLIES
WHAT HE THINKS OF MIR. WILL
Cox's STATEMENT.

President Samuel Gompers of the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor had something to
say and he said 1t with emphasis, today
to Star reporter anent the recent state
ment of President David Wilcox OF the
Delaware and Hudson Company concern
ing the great anthracite coal strikes of 1870
and 1902. In an article in the current num-
Der of the North American Review Mr.
Wilcox replies to the recent speaking cam
paign Of John Mitchell. president of the
United Mine Workers and intimates that
Mitchell Is tending toward a repetition IT
the strikes In the coal fields which resulted
in much loss to the industries of this
country and untold suffering to the people
because of a lack of fuel.
There Is no movement backward on the
part of the miners" said Mr.. GOmpers.
IF there is any retrogression it will be on
the part of the operators, some OF whom
are said to be DESTROYS Of returning to the
old conditions which existed before the APP
pointment of the anthracite commission by
President Roosevelt
President Wilcox's Statement.
President Wilcox says: There is no
possible warrant for the repetition next
year of the disturbances and losses caused
by the anthracite coal strikes of 1900 and
1902 All the existing conditions have been
ployes were parties, and the machinery has
been successfully provided through the con-
Citation board for adjusting any future
questions. Methods of transacting business
have been fully investigated and have not
been found Objectionable in any respect.
What possible ground can exist for disturb
ing this situation and subjecting the coun-
try to the hazard of another anthracite
striker
Mr.. Wilcox further says that the average
nf WHY fn
eight hours. and the agitation for an
e1ght-hour day is merely an effort for a
Iurther advance In wages over the sched-
ule fixed by the anthracite commission
The increase in wages, which followed
the strike of 1902. amounted to an average
OF over 10 per cent. and resulted in a total
inc ga a In the cost Of mining Of about
$la 4OO.OOO. The schedule Of wages, Mr.
Wilcox says. was fixed by the strike COM
mission with full reference to the prices Of
coal. and as no change has occurred since
then. the proposed action would be merely
overruling the award of the commission
The questions of the open shop and the de-
mand of the union for a contract to be
made with 1T by each Of the employers.
Mr.. WILCOX says. have already been denied
by the strike commission and their injus-
tice pointed out.
The conclusions reached at the end of
the long struggle in 1902 are according to
President Wilcox, satisfactory to the en-
ployers. and they have no desire to upset
the results Of the long period of peaceful
N.
Mr.. Gompers' Declaration.
Mr.. Gompers said the present conditions
were brought about by the work Of the
commission. He Is pleased to know that
they are regarded as satisfactory by Mr..
Wilcox, whose opinion that great improve
ment in the conditions referred to has re-
suited. he must concede. primarily from
the strike.
al of
Mr.. Wilcox's mind" said the labor presi-
dent.
Referring to his recent visit to Pennsyl-
vania President Gompers added that while
in casual conversation with a coal opera
tor, the latter declared that he wanted to
go back to the old conditions that existed
before the strike.
This was a brutal remark" said Mr.
Gompers, but l can say emphatically we
are not going back to the old conditions.
The miners will not submit to it. The terms
of the agreement now in force, made at the
instigation of the government commission,
will expire in April 1906. There must be
new and satisfactory agreement between
operators and miners entered upon before
the present compact expires. There will be
no retarding-no movement backward-on
the part of the miners, but there must be
an agreement between employers and en-
ployes. But there will be no return to the
conditions that existed before the strike.
You can rest assured of that
Another leader in labor matters said to-
day that the coal operators had cleverly
arranged to pass through the busy winter
months under the terms of the existing
agreement and then upon its expiration,
April next, at the beginning of the long
and duh spring and summer season. seek to
restore the human slavery SYSTEM" as he
termed it, which, he added had been the
cause of the big strikes.
But" he declared, I'VE have been ap-
prised of their intention, and a satisfactory
compact will be entered into before the
snow flies next winter, Or"
You meant to say or no coal will be
mined" suggested the reporter.
II did not say 1t, however. but you may
draw your own inference"