Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-02
TALK OF COAL STRIKE
President Wilcox Discusses Situation
 From His Standpoint.

New York. Aug 2.--In view of the
 persistent rumorS of a forthcoming
 strike ill the anthracite region of Penn
 sylvania. statement issued to-day by
 President David Willcox of the Della
 ware and Hudson railroad in reply to
 statements made by John Mitchell in
 his recent speaking tour, is of timely
 interest. In magazine article (the
 North American Review for August
 MT Wilcox denies vigorously the cont
 plaint of the anthracite miners that
 there is cause for repetition of the
 strikes of 1900 and 1902 and asserts
 that there is no possible reason for dis
 turbing the conditions in the coal fields
 established by the anthracite coal strike commission and the board O. cOnciliation.
 President Wilcox points out that the recent activity of John Mitchell among the United Mine Workers has aroused considerable interest, and after an account of the prevailing con ditions. concludes by declaring that the machinery of arbitrating all diff, ferences is already in operation and that there is in the present situation no warrant for subjecting the country to another strike.
 The present agitation in favor of an eight hour day. Mir Wilcox declares to be merely thinly disguised demand for an increase in wages. The contract miners work less than eight hours a day now and the other class of em- plOyes. known as company men," has on an average day of only 7.6 hours. As a result of the strike in 1902 wages were raised from 10 to ii per cent. eX- elusive of the increase brought about by the sliding scale. This raise in pay resulted in 1904 in increased cost of production.
 Should the eight hour law be passed, Mir Wilcox says. the miners would have to work longer than they do now for the same pay and the company men, would receive one-eighth instead of one-ninth of their daily pay for an hours work. AS the company men, make up about B per cent of the en- ployes, the cost of mining would be greater.
 Then. taking up the question of the "open shop" Mir Wilcox quotes at iNhSib tut IcBolt. declaring that the mines should be open to all. regardless of membership in any labor organization. He points out that Mitchell's contention that it is as right to compel men to belong to unions as it is to compel children to go to school is in opposition to decis ions of the supreme court of the United States.
 These decisions, Mir Wilcox asserts. are more important than Mir Mitchelrs logic.
 While differences of opinion may always exist" Mir Wilcox goes on to say. still the rules of action in civ lized communities are authOritatively settled by their judicial tribunals"
 Mir Wilcox explains that the board of conciliation has met with great sue. .ess.
 Every grievance" he says. has been disposed of in due course and there are now no grievances in exist ,nce of sufficient merit to warrant their or arbitration save small number of recent cases which are in process of adjudication. As for the lemand that each employer should made a contract with the United Mine Workers covering the questions of wages. conditions of work and means ,f arbitration. the commission has al- 'eady denied the justice of this and in- | ;tead suggests notifications in the or | .anization of the union for the purpose | If making it more responsible as well | IS more attractive for non-union men," Ir Wilcox quotes the commissions l eport as follows:
 Tt should be remembered that the | rade union is q voluntary social or and like any other organiza- ion is subordinate to the laws of the and and cannot make rules or regula 1 ions in contravention thereof. Yet it | t times seeks to set itself up as a sep ,arate and distinct governing agency. my to control those who have refused O consent to its government and to leny to them the personal liberties which are guaranteed to every citizen " the constitution
 None of the changes suggested by he commission as regards the conduct f the union has been made. Mir Will OK says. and the whole report has been dismissed by Mir Mitchell as based upon premises which cannot @ maintained"
 In concluding his statement Presi- ent Wilcox says:
 'Tbe existing conditions have. there ore. all been the result of arbitration n which both parties were represent q. They have secured to the em- loves a rate of wages which the com mission held to be proper when the repared or domestic sizes of coal sell { SI q ton. with an advance as the rice increases. and have also provided machinery by which all grievances ave been adjusted and which will he qually available for the future.
 The employers have shown no de ire to disturb tbese results. which ave been so painfully and expensive r reached by arbitration. and are will lg to continue the present arrange lent indefinitely.
 "The present state of the industry !. therefore. exceptional All the ex- ,iting conditions have been settled by rbitration. to which the employees ere parties. and the machinery has cen successfully provided through the Dnciliation board for adjusting any Iture questions. The methods of ! business have been fully lvestigafed and have not been found in any respect. What ossible ground can exist for disturb lg this situation and subjecting the luntry to the hazard of another aE- lracite strike;"