The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-05-11
MINERS SIGN THREE
YEAR PEACE TERM
Operators Win Their Point After
Hard Fight by Mitchell-Will
Pa+,r, - worL

New York, May 9.-After carrying
on negotiations for nearly three months
the subcommittee representing the an
thracito mine workers and operators OF
eastern Pennsylvania yesterday agreed
lto continue the warad of the strike
commission for another three years, or
until March 81, 1909. and the men will
return to work as soon as practicable,
probably Monday.
All miners who a not committed
violence against miners or property
will be unemployed. and no one will
be Disseminated against because OF
any activity he may nave taken in the
STRIKE movement. The agreement is
subject to the ratification of the en-
tire DISCREET of miners at Scranton to-
day but there is not the slightest
doubt that the delegates will approve
the action of their representatives.
The outcome of a dispute which
threatened to develop into a long. bit
ter struggle and paralyze a great in
,dustry was looked upon with consid-
ierable satisfaction by the coal road
presidents. as the agreement entered
INTO is their first proposition made
learly in March in reply TO the mine
workers original demands.
The miners had little to say regard
ing the agreement except thot 1T was
lthe pest they could get. They pointed
out. however, that the agreement en-
tered into is the first general agree
lnent that has ever been signed be-
tween the operators and miners, and
they look upon it as a step forward in
their endeavor to have regular agree
1nents With their employers.
while the compact entered into was
prealcted last week, the agreement was
not reached without Il final struggle
on the part of the miners to get some-
tllNg more. President Nfitoboll in, et,+
ing TO the operators the action at the
convention, asked that the
proposed agreement he made for two
years. In arguing for the two-year
term he made he said the cost of living
might Increase considerably in three
years and that other changes in the
mining industry might come that would
make the present wage scale unfair to
che men.
The operators in their reply said they
telt that n contingency that might
arise was covered by the award of the
strike commission and they concluded
by asking that the award be continued
for three years. This was then agreed
to.
In taking up the question of discrim-
ination against some of the men it was
the intention Of the mine owners to
take back only such men as they chose
to re-employ, but President Mitchell
Soiilesleu llal pOlll SO strongly hat
the operators withdrew it.
Today's session was the longest of
the series, lasting nearly two hours.
The district presidents and secretaries
left for Schanton his evening.
President Mitchell will go later,
reaching that city in time to preside
over the convention. No date has been
set for the resumption of work.
1T was thought that Thursday would
be selected. but as some of the mines
are not in good condition for an i'm
resumption the beginning of
operations may be delayed until Mon
day. This is the sixth week of the sus-
pension and represents a loss in pro-
duction of about 5000. coo tons.
. Scranton. Pa. May Sit was learned
ON ~indisputable authority that John
Mitchell was opposed to a strike from !
the very outset. He WAS opposed to it
rs Il matter of eNpediencN. though he is
known to have felt that it would be al
most justified rs Il matter of principle.
While The convention was talking
strike and when it Was felt on all sides
n bitter contest WAS ~unavoidable.
Mr.. Mitchell Was quietly gathering i'm
Formation through trusty ii~eulenants.
having no connection with the organi- !
Hat1on from the operators camp. He
was hiding out whether or not there
would be amy Discrimination in case Of
" resumption and was securing accu-
rate information concerning the extra
output OF coal since the suspension
went into effect.