Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-11-06
MINE STRIKE. HINGES
OPERATORS TACT
'by William f. Curtis in the Cbicaoo
Record-Herald.)

hAHLETON, Pa, Oct 23.-The J.,
DOT situation in the anthracite co,t
regions is critical, and another Ion.
strike at the termination of the ev.
lstlng agreement on the LIST n, ,,,ii
heN' can only be avoided by the ex
ercise o' tact and diplomacy on tha
part oi the operators. Disinterested
people, who are familiar with CON,
ui'iohs, do not hesitate TO soy tba,
MI. Baer president of the Road;rg
haiifoad. is the pivot upon wbic
events VIII turn; that upon his disno.
'i'ioh and behavior the dreaded dem
ohstration will depend. Two of rho
three divisions OF the union int, ,,,hiat
ne anthracite coal fields are Divided
nave already made the following de.
mands:
l. recognition of the Mine Work.
Union by ths coal operators IN
sahe 'he lorm OF a signed agreement
tween "a committee of the onerntors
and the officials OF the union conc,,r,i
ing hours and wages.
= An eight-hour day for every ma,
on The pay rolls.
2 AN increase of 10 per cent for
al unskilled labor
4; uniform scale of wayes ror al.
employees except contract miners
Fhe third division holds fts no,
,sn''oh IN November. and will prob.
'"iy concur in these demands. A Joint
convention TO be held at Shamokin In
december will undoubtedly ratifv them
'iso ana instruct the officers of tho
union 10 present them to the onera.
b LOTS before April !, when the agree.
'hen' arranged by President Roose.
'el.s commission. in 1908. expires
The conditions are quite comnIicat-
ed. but disinterested friends of rho
hiihers maintain that the result
hinges upon the manner in which the
demands are received and treated bv
E me operators.
H. the operators will agree to re
cciNe a committee and discuss affairs
"ith them as equals, man to man
there Will be no difficulty" said a gen.
''e"ah whose business requires him to
Keep on confidential terms with the
union leaders. but If the operators
turn their backs upon the delegation
or endesyor to treat them as infer
iors, or deny their right to interfere
"hn matters which concern the wei.
fare Of their fellow members of the
union, trouble is certain. The miners
do not expect to receive the recoe.
milton of the union that they demand
- they 10 not expect that the operators
VIII sit down with the officials of the
npion and arrange a scale of rates
= and code of regulations with them
i although that is the gist of their de
mands Htnety-iive per cent of then
are perfectly satisfied with the pres
ent situation. but they conceive tha,
the vindication Of their manhood and
the assertion of their dignity as OF
hciais of an organization of more
than 100000 members require the op
orators to meet them on equal terms
man to man. and that the operator,
snail display the same amount of con
hdence and respect for this committe,
rom the customers or their associate,
In business. II is. therefore, NOR,
anything else, and II that recognitio,
is granted; If the operators will re
ceive committee and discuss thing
win them as equals, it will he perfect
~ 10 renew the existing arrangemen,
But If the operators are arrogant an
dispute the right OF the men to sen
committees to them the temper of tn
unions will be aroused and strilx
Is certain"
Ihere seems to be an impressio
among the miners that President Bae
OF the Reading railroad is the onl
operator of Importance who will r.
Iuse TO meet the men in the spir
have described. and 1t is Baer the
are after. He controls at least
per cent of the anthracite outpu
either directly or indirectly, or with
10 per cent as much as all the rest
the operators conmbincd. In that DO
itioh and with that power he IL reco