Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-12
REFUSE TO BE BOUND
COAL MINERS DEMUR TO RENEW
AL OF CONFESSIONS AWARD.

PHILADELPHIA, November ia spe-
clal dispatch from Shamokin, Pa, to the
Evening Telegraph says:
A complete canvass of the Lackawanna,
Schuylkiil and Lehigh coal districts shows
that the miners, through their delegates
tc the United Mine Workers convention to
be held here beginning December II. Will
refuse to be bound after April next by
renewal OF the award OF the anthracite
coal strike commission appointed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, unless the operators, in ad-
dition. agree to the union becoming sigma
tory party.
From first-hand sources the following
forecast OF the conventions action Is jusii-
fed: ..z-.. ,s5.s. .>i-t-y .rs.-s,-.s
A committee representing the union MN
ors will be instructed TO wait upon the
opera tors and request a conference.
This committee will explain to the oper-
ators. If -granted--the opportunity, that
nc conference is asked so that a mutual
agreement may be reached as to the terms
OF employment at all colieries after April /.
The convention will take stand for an
c.sht-hour work day. uniform pay for
classes of employees not rated as miners
and specific terms of employment, but these
will be held subject to a joint discussion
and will not be obtruded in advance of the
request for a conference
Should the operators issue or post a no.
lice of their intention or willingness to con-
tlhue in force the commissions award III
advance of the convention, such notice Will
be disregarded il is said, by the convention
unless addressed to that body, to the union
or to one or more of its representatives.
Failing to get the consent of the oper-
ators to meet representatives of the
union the convention will adjourn to allow
for further negotiations and for final In
structions from the local unions in all three
districts.
In the event of the operators refusing 10
meet or discuss with union representatives
the Shamokin convention WILL at least. an
nounce the refusal of the 100. 600 union mIn,
workers to be longer bound by the terms
of the commissions award.
Recognition of the union, in short, is TO
be the aim and goal of the convention, ami
TO obtain this John Mitchell. backed up by
a strengthened organization, the American
Federation of Labor and every Influence
which he can command stands committed.
On the other hand. the operators white
avowedly favoring the extension of the
award, are testing the constitutionality OF
the miners certificate law. and, should the
decision of the superior court be in their
favor, It will intensity the miners demand
for written contract.
Thomas d. Nichols. president Of the
United Mine Workers District No. l.
which includes the upper Lackawanna
mines, and who is one of the three union
representatives on the board of concilia-
ton. which passes on differences between
the operators and employees, said:
THE practical workings Of the award
have fallen far short of the miners ex-
not been able to adjust differences speedily
enough to secure the benefits presumably
intended by the commission. Much OF the
dissatisfaction which exists among the
miners is due to certain of the operators
changing conditions of employment, and
when the men demur, carrying the matter
up to the board to be threshed out. AS
the representative of the operators object
to meeting oftener than once a week and
pos ponements are frequent, months slip by
before the dispute IS adjusted.
Having honorably abded by the commits
sion's awards, the mine workers insist that
they are entitled to a business agreement
which will give them in plain words bene-
fits which are now denied, and which can
now only be obtained. if at all, by pro-
longed wrangling.
Statement by Mitchell.
PITTSBURG, Pa. November 11.-Presi-
dent John Mitchell OF the United Mine
Workers of America, who is also vice
president of the American Federation Of
Labor, arrived in this city today 20 attend
the silver anniversary and convention of
the Federation of Labor which convenes
Monday morning. Mr.. Mitchell was seen
at the Colonial Hotel and shown the dis
patch from Philadelphia regarding the pro-
posed action to be taken at the miners
convention to be held at Shamokin. Pa,
beginning December a. After reading the
article Mr.. Mitchell said:
1T Is utterly impossible for any one to
forecast the result of the convention. To
do so Is pure speculation and should not
be credited. The officials OF the miners
organization do not know the sentiment
of the men and We will not know until after
delegates to the convention have been
elected, and given their instructions by the
local unions. The delegates will not be
elected for several weeks yet, so how can
any one predict the action to be taken at
the meeting"
But according to the dispatch a COM
plete canvass has been made of the dis
trfct, 1t is said, the miners will refuse to
be bound after April l next by a renewal
of the award of the anthracite commission
unless the operators agree to the union be-
coming signatory party" President Mitch
ell was reminded.
II believe the report Is speculation" re-
piled Mr.. Mitchell. IF such feeling ex-
lists among the men l do not know II and
nobody else does or can until the miners
elect and instruct their delegates to the
convention"
AGAINST TURKEY.