New-York tribune., 1906-04-12
WILL REPEAT DEMANDS.
TO ACCEPT COMMISSION.
Miners Want Original Propositions
ReUiezced By 1909 Tribunal.

The scale committee of t1hrty-six of the an
thracite mine workers spent several hours at the
Ashland House yesterday formulating answer
to the proposition of the anthracite operators
committee of seven which will be submitted by
the miners committee of seven at the joint con-
ference to-day, which will begin at 1:30 p. m
in the Jersey Central Building, No. 143 Broad
way. The answer of the miners, it is under
Stood is TO be as follows:
We hereby respectfully submit to you our
original propositions subject to the investigation
of the Anthracite Strike Commission. whics you
have proposed.
The miners principal argument will be that
inasmuch as the operators had confidence in the
coal strike commission and were willing to sub
nit to it the question whether not any new
fact had arisen, which was not covered by the
commissions award, the operators ought to be
willing to submit the miners propositions.
It was said that some notifications might be
made in the original demands. One was that the
miners committee would not ask for an agree
ment with the United Mine Workers of America,
but with the Anthracite Mine Workers. Another
was that in the check-off system demand they
would not ask any one to be assessed who was
not willing. third was that they would be
willing to allow the anthracite strike commits
sion TO fix the term of the agreement.
The members of the scale committee were at
first very angry about the making public Of the
protest Of Independent operators condemn'ng the
methods of the union by the operators COM
mittee Of seven while the miners committee
learned of It from the reporters. Some OF them
wanted to make an issue of it, but were over
ruled. When asked about it, Mitchell said: L
have given the protest of the independent
operators no consideration whatever 1t cuts no
figure in our plans. and is not seriously
thought OFF,
The operators would not talk yesterday on
the prospects of peace or war. 1t was learned
unoficially, however, that Mitchell would be
given all the conferences he wanted, and that
the operators would make move toward
breaking the strike until Mitchell declared all
negotiations off.
Representatives of Independent companies
which signed the protest against the union said
yesterday that they believed there would be no
strike. Mitchell, they said. knew very well that
a strike would be inevitably lost. 1t as
serted last evening that if the operators accepted
Mitchens latest offer he would order an i'm
mediate resumption of work. Several officers
of locals in the soft coal district of Alabama and
adjacent states visited Mitchell last night and
had a conference with him.
The soft coal operators in this city who have
interests in the Clearfield soft coal districts or
Pennsylvania said yesterday that the joint con-
ference between the operators and sort codt
miners had been aOJOuTneO again uillll LuCSSoS-
The adjournment, they said, was taken because
the Clearfed operators wanted to see whether
there would be an anthracite strike before tney
took final action If there is an anthraclte
strike It is said, they Will settle with the min
ers, and If not they will refuse the demands
The Cleardeld district supplies New York
PhfIadephia and intervening places with soft
coal and supplies the steamships in New YORK
II is learned that the steamship companies are
short of coal now. and their agents have beeh
working hard to get enough
1t was learned last night at the Ashland
House that during the conferences with the
oDerators the question of wages was fully dis
cnssad District President Dettrey, II is said
made a plea for better wages for the most poorly
Maid Of the miners. District President Nichols
followed and said to President Thomas of the
I,ehigh Valley Railroad: DO You expect any
decent American wOrkingman to try to support
himself and those dependent on him for 81 29
day." ,,
Mr. Thomas replied: Il wouldn't care at this
time TO go into the question of how we expect
men 10 work around the collieries for 81 2S
day. but l will say that | myself have worked IN
the mines for less than that and was glad to get
the chance to do So"
The anthracite strike commission which set
tied the trouble between the operators and MN
ers in the hard coal field in 1902. composed
of Judge George Gray, of Delaware; Carroll D.
Wright president of Clark University, Worces-
ter Mass; General Wilson, Bishop Spaulding, OF
Peoria nl e f. Clark. chief of the order OF
Railway Conductors OF America; Thomas d
Watkins a bituminous coal operator, and IL W.
Parker an expert statistician.
AS Bishop Spaulding is in very poor health az
present should the joint committee reacn an
agreement to-day Archbishop Ryan, OF Phiia-
deIphia may be asked 10 take a place on the
commission.
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