West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-03-22
Working to Avoid a Strike.

News columns of the daily press have de-.
voted a great deal of space of late to dis
patches relating to the difference between
the Unite Mine Workers and the operators
in the bitumnous and anthracite C al regions.
Positive assertions ould be published one
day only TO be vgui uusly denied tbs follow.
ing day, making 1t difficult to sift the truth
out Of the great mass of statements. How
ever, some points are now regarded as posi-.
lively settled. Greater progress appears 10
have been made respecting the difficulties in
the biiuminous sections than in the anthra-
cite regions, and this is due 10 two potent
causes. Presden, Roosevelt has again
deemed It to be the part OF wisdom to inter.
vene and endeavor to bring the two factions
IN the bi,uminous sections closer together.
This he did by addressing the following
letter simultaneously to John Mitchell, pres
ident of the United Mine Workers and to
Francis L. Robbins as chairman Of the btu.
minous operators:
White House, Washington, Feb. "a.
St;-l note with very great concern the
failure OF your late convention on the Joint
interstate agreement TO come To- a basis of
settlement OF the bituminous mining scale of
wages. You m this business have enioyed
great Industrial peace for many years, thanks
10 the Joint trade agreement that has resulted
"a the action of your successive conventions.
strike such as is threatened on April I
IS a menace 10 the peace and general welfare
OF the country. / urge YOU 10 make a fur
iher effort to avoid such a calamity.
You aud Mr. Robbins are Joint chairm-n
OF The Trade Agreement Committee Of the
National Civic Federation and i, seems to
me that this imposes additional duty upon
you both and gives an additional reason why
each Of you should join in making further
effort Very respectfully,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
This step was Immediately followed by a
conference between the representatives. Of
the l~o factions and enlargement to recon
yens The convention Of mine worker and
operators at Indianapolis on March 10 for
The purpose Of reopening negotiations for
settlement The question AZ issue is anad.
vance in the scale 81 wages, the mine work
sra demanding an increase Of 1zH per cent,
It now seems probable that the operators will
coneede an advance Of SIS per cent which
would restore wages TO The level prevailing
three years ego when Tie mine workers con.
s-ntei TO- a reduction
ln addition 90 The influence exered Ivy
the President Of the United States. itis said
Chat pressure has been br9ugh, 20 bear UPON
the b.um.nou operators by officers Of the
United States Steel Corporation who do net
relish The prospsc, Of a dearth 81 fuel 10
supply their extensive plants which. /, is
said, have orders in hand sufficient Co keen
them busy for at lea7ts year. The Steel Cor.
poraiion has contract with the piusbufg
Coal Company, Of which Mr.. Robbins IA
president, which is Go run for twenty-five
years, and under which the minimum amo,7,
Of ooal 60 be supplied s 1000. 600 tons.
Naturally 'he steel managers van, Che coal
companies TO continue DO position 90 supply
fuel uodsr this c9Dtrac, and they have been
1'.ng '1s.r Influence ~ preserve peace and
bring sD11t settlement Therefore sr.
pears az present as ifa strike fr h- .Hu
u. coal regions will be- avoided and
when contract between mine workers and
na.na.9n made 81, may be Tor period
.o1ge, chem one year