The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-03-15
Strike NOW SEEMS
- ALMOST CERTAIN
Anthracite Operators : Reject
All Demands Made BY the
Miners Association.
INSIST ON OPEN SHOP
They State They viii in No Respect
Enter Into an Agreement with tho
unien--psciars Increased Pay
Means. Increased Coal Prices.

America for a readjustmcnt Of wages
and conditions In the anthracite coal
fields as q whole having been denied
by tho committee representing the an
thracite operators. counter PROPOSE
ton by the operators suggests that tho
awards made by tho anthracite coal
strike commission. the principles upon
which they we're established by the
commission and tho methods estab-
lished for carrying out their findiugs
and awards. shall be continued for
further term OF three years from the
list day OF April, 1906. The present
agreement terminates March ~ or this
year.
Announcement of the anthracite op-
orators decision and their counter
proposition have been made public In
long formal statement which was
given out for publication. This state
ment, which includes the correspond
ence on the subjects az issue between
President John Mitchell. of the. United
Mine Workers OF America. acting Tor
the miners. and George L. Baer. presi-
dent or the Philadelphia ana Rsading
Coal aud Iron company, for the op-
orators, discusses the miners propod-
lions In detail. In, every instance, tho
contention ip made by tho operators
either that conditions In the coal nrlds
do not warrant the change proposed
by the miners or that the qucstiuns AZ
issue already have been passed upon
BY the strike corin,ission.. tl So
- : Refuse TO Rsoesnizs Union:
The demand OF the miners that The
operators enter into an agreement with
the union Is declined on the ground
that the anthracite operators stand
.unalterably for the open shop. and
again decline To make an agreement
with the United Mine workers or
America, ap organization controlled by
n rival Industry "
OF The demand for IN -eighs-hopr
day. the statement says tho operators
knox OF no change I'm conditions that
can be used To sustain the renewed de-
mand for n reduction IN hours. IL
declares that the expectation or the
strike committee that, the reduction
| from ten TO nins hours should not re-
! suit In any decrease I'm the output or
the mines has not been realized, anu
adds. o. oar" .s"r.. r-r-~
I'VE might justly say that with the
experiences or the past three years
d the ten hour day should be restored;
/ but we are willing to abide by the
|. decision OF the. comtpission.
| Tho proposition TINT n uniform scale
\ OF wages he established In the anthra-
| cito fields Is met by the operators Win
/ the reply that this would he inprac-
| tlcable, by reason OF tho varying ca
pacI,Ies of the workmen and tho vary
| Ing conditions existing I'm the region
aad at the colliericS 20 ..
Higher Wages; Higher Coal.
| We cannot increase wages with
! out advancing the price OF coal, and
NE are not willing TO advance tho
price OF coal" Is the reply To- the de-
/ mand for n general Increase In wages.
The demand that the operators
| Ehall collect from each employc GER
| tain. stated sums for the mine work
\ ers' union Is denied on the ground
that. as matter OF policy we
would not make such an agreement
es you request. and as matter OF
law we are not permitted tn make IT,
The operators decline, to agree 10
any change in the board OF con-
I Citation established By the anthracite
coal strike commission, taking the
ground that that system proposed BY
the miners will impose the creation OF
a series OF minor boards whose de-
cisions might be conflicting and from
which appeals would have to be
taken 10 an arbitrator. thereby Great
| ing moro delay than now exists. The
4 complaint OF tho miners that the board
OF Cancellation does not act promptly
tho operators declare to DO not war
ranted by the facts. ''f NE.ssyH
The demand for a new sliding wage
ncaie Is denied on Tho ground that rho
sliding scale flxed by the anthracite
coal strike commission covers prnc-
tically all the propositions In the pro-
posed new scale.
In conclusion the statement says:
II has been our hopc and W. trusted the
public expectation as well, that tn. encC
81 the exhaustive inyesugation and ind
tnRs Of tho distinguished citizens who con-
stitutcd thu anthracite strike commission
would be TO establish "a Just and p"rml-
nent adjustment OF the relations between
the operators ard their employers We
| therefore regret your, suggestions that an
| entirely new anu untricd arrangement
should be made which - only 10 last foF
| ono year.
and employees nor OF tlr. public To have tho
mining business. as well as tn" general
business and comfort OF the people sert-
oysly disturbed by these yearly contcn'
lions.
Neither can stand these progressive and
enormous Increases In the cost OF the pro-
duction ot anthracite coal. followed nee
price.
= II Is peculiarly fortunate. Therefore. that
: eylsung conditions have all been the re-
suit OF arbitration by third persons %
that neither party can say that II has not
had due consideration.
There can be no doubt that Ia" gool OF
MI C0rcerueu VIII "" SfFNfN bFAt nA afN"f
iDH 10 tn. results thus reached.
What Miners Asked For.
The demands ~ the MN" workers. which
was prepared by a con mittcc OF seven,
with John Mitchell a. chairman. were for
| wRrdeJ 10 President Bacr, chairman Of a
similar committee representing THE an.
thracItv OPERATORS on February e.
They sought to provide for au agree.
mSnt between The REPRESENTATIVES, ar tho
United Mine Workers OF America and the
\ various anthracite operating companies
that certain wages rates. hours OF labor
and conditions Of employment should be.
come effective April l. ls0s and continue
In effect until April l. 1897. Tho proposals
Included the establishment OF an eight
hour day for all persons covered by the
agreement. readjustcd scale OF wages
with an increase OF 10 poT cent. above the
award made By tho strike commission foS
contract miners: new sliding scale pro.
vidinK for an increase OF l per cent In
wages for all mine workers affected by the
agreement for each increase OF cents IN
tho average price OF coal In the slzes
known CRATE cgg. stoy" and chestnut
sold at or near New York above $40 pei
ton. the rate OF compensation in no cass
TO DO less than that fixed IN tho agree
rnent; the recognition OF a mine committee
from thu unlou with full All kh orfty "a IA n,