The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-04-06
HARD COAL MINERS
WOULD ARB|TRATE
Willing to Leave Differences
to Board Whose Decision
Will Be Binding.
OPERATORS MAY REFUSE
THEY NOW HAVE THE PRoPosl.
TIoN UNDER CONSIDERATION
AND WILL GIVE ANSWER NEXT
MONDAY.
Publishers. PressJ

New York, April 5.-That the an.
thracite operators at their meeting
with the miners scale committee,
which is scheduled for Monday, will
refuse the arbitration proposition
made by President John Mitchell and
his associates at today's conference,
seems to be indicated by statement
issued from the press headquarters of
the allied hard coal companies late to-
night and Ivey ID. Lee. who was plac-
ed in charge of the publicity head
quarters when 1t was established a
month ago on the suggestion of
Messrs. Bear and Wilcox.
The statement was not made until
after the operators had conferred at
lengh on the miners proposal. and 1t
practically charges the mine workers
with bad faith. in their proposal,
claiming that they suggest arbitration
to expire on April 1, 19OS--a Pres
idential year, thus affording a new op-
portunity to make this great industry
the football of politics" and winding
up by calling attention to the fact
that the operators want to extend the
findings of the coal commission until
April 1, 1909, an of year.
Mitchell Thinks 1t Serious.
When President Mitchell was told OF
the operators statement he showed by
his attitude that he considered 1t very
serious, but said he would have to
have time to consider it before he
would make any reply thereto.
So soon as today's conference was
ended the operators met and discussed
for hours the new angle the situation
had assumed, and it was as result
that the following statement was is.
sued:
1T should be observed that in the
astutely drawn proposition of Mr..
Mitchell and his committee. the op-
orators are asked to submit to arbi-
tration the question of the closed
shop and the check off'--a scheme re-
quiring in the words OF the miners
committee. that each company shall
collect from each em-Noye such
amounts as may be levied by their or
ganization monthly, the amount thus
over to an authorized committee at
the colliery, plan which would
make Of every operator a collecting
agency on behalf of the strike funds
of the miners. In their letter of
March 8 to the miners committee,
the operators said. concerning the
'check-off:
LAS a matter of policy we would not
make such an agreement as you re-
quest, and as a matter of law. we are
not permitted to make it."
1T also should be observed that Mr..
Mitchell's committee abandons the
proposal for a one-year agreement
and suggests an arbitration, the term
of which made expire on April l,
190S'--a presidential year, thus afford
ing new opportunity to make this
great industry the football of politics.
The opertors had already offered, It
will be remembered to extend the find
ings of the Coal Commission until
April 1, 1909"
MicheIPs Statement.
The statement of President Mitch
ell, as made to the operators and
which called out the above reply, was
as follows:
The committee appointed by the
Shamokin convention on Dec. IA, last,
representing the employees of the va
rious compnies operating the mines.
Yasheries and breakers in the anthra-
Gle coal regions, having. under con-
dated Feb. 27, and your counter propo-
sition of March 8, which was a contin-
uance for three years of the award OF
the anthracite coal strike commission
together with the letter of the COVER
nor of Pennsylvania, has decided that
in view of the great public interests
involved-aside from those we repre-
sent directly-it Is our duty to make
some further effort and even a sacri-
fee of what we believe to be justly
conditions of employment in order
that great public calamity may be
averted. Therefore. we propose
that, subject to the approval of von-
vention of anthracite mine workers
which shall be called at the earliest
date possible, the differences between
us as stated in our propositions and
your counter proposals, be referred
for determination and settlement to
board of arbitration composed OF
the members of the present Board
of Cancellation provided for in the
award of the Anthracite Coal Strike
Comm. .ssion, with Judge Gray or any
person he may appoint to act as
chairman and umpire; the decision
of the tribunal or of the majority OF
the members thereof. in SO far as II
influences wages, to be effectinve from
April /, 1906, and to continue In force
until March 81, 1908, such decision to
be final and binding upon all parties
in interest
The employees of the anthracite
mines, washeries and breakers to re-
sumo work Immediately and continue
at work pending decision of said
board"