New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-13
THE YARD coal NEGOTIATIONS.

The formal rejection by the anthracite opera
tors Of the miners demands formulated and
presented by President John Mitchell was
forecone conclusion. The position Of the OPP
81 ators had been clearly stated in President
Willcox's letter of February 10 before nego-
tiations were opened. and il was evident that
no concessions involving increased wages or
recognition of the union would be granted
Mr.. Wilcox had indicated that mine own
erS were prepared to offer renewal OF The
arbitration agreement Of 1903 and this counter
uroDOsaI is now made. II IS a striking ndorse-
ment of the work of the federal arbitration
board that the operators themselves press on
the miners compact embOdymg terms when
only three years ago they were bitterly de
nouncing as exorbtant and ruinOus. But their
change of heart is quite intelligible. Under the
arbitration boards decision the hard coal IN
dustry has enjoyed three exceptionally pros
porous years Production has been enlarged.
profits and wages have increased together
and friction between employers and employed
has been reduced 10 n minimum. The oper-
ators would be glad to renew an agree
ment which has worked well. The public
would he gratified 10 have the assurance that
for three more years at least hard coal pro
ductiOn will not stop and prices VIII not be
further skyrocketed The miners themselves
might do much worse than extend compact
under which they have received a material ad-
vance in wages and have secured redress for
many minor grievances.
The proposal Of the anthracite operators is
IN itself fair and reasonable. and if the pres
ant dispute could be settled on its merits there
would be little fear Of rupture this year III
the hard coal region. But The Tribune has
already pointed out. the dispute with the hard
coal owners is only al adventurous issue in the
policy Of President Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers. Mr. Mitchell is playing a big game
on a big board. and his dealings with the an
thTacite operators are only an incident in his
general strategy. In this he has an advantage
OF position which his opponents clearly recOS-
nize President Baer protested in his state
ment of Sunday last that the hard coal owners
could not afford TO deal with a union the ma
jority Of whose members employed in the
btuminous field for that would be dealing
with an organization controlled by a rival
industry" That is the cruS in the coal situa-
ton The bituminous and anthracite operators
are business rivals but by controlling the work
ers in the TWO industries Mr.. Mitchell can play
one interest off against the other 10 accomplish
his purposes.
The primary aim Of the miners union just
now is 10 raise the wage scale in the btumi-
nous field The soft coal operators are resist
ing an increase but their ranks are divided. for
in the present condition of the soft coal indus
try strike has little or no economic justitca-
ton. No surplus stock Is available. the demand
for coal is expanding prices are good and enor-
nous contracts for delivery are outstanding. To
bring still further pressure Oh the reluctant soft
coal operators Mr. Mitchell wants to be in
position 10 offer them the tempting bait of
strike I'm the hard coal region, with the result
ing extension Of the soft coal market and the
stiffenlng Of soft coal prices If the bituminous
operators thought a hard coal strike
suTed they would fall over each other I'm their
eagerneSs TO sign new wage scale with the
union Mr.. Baer and his associates are TO that
extent playing Mr.. Mitchells game when they
give him preteIts for forcing strike in the an
tlIracite field In far they help him 70 Sc
cure an advance from the bituminOus operators,
and with that advance secured he can under
take 10 put in force another long embargo on
hard coal production. The anthracite managers
NAV therefore have a fight thrust upon them
whether they want ii or not. But their propO-
sitiOn to re-enact the arbitration boards rulings
shows that they have protited by the lesson of
1902 and are willing TO avoid if they can,
conflict whose chief outcome would he the az
Srandizement of "a rival industry.