Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-03-24
OPERATORS WILL
MEET MINERS
Sssr Notifies Mitchell They are
Ready For Further Conference
But PROMISES NO CONCESSIONS


New York. March 21.-There viii be
conferences between the two commit
tseH OF seven members each. repre-
Henting the anthracite coal operators
and the miners of the hard coal dis
trict This Was decided upon at "a
meeting IN this city OF the committee
81 operators. Later Presl dent George
+. Baer, OF the Philadelphia a. Read
ing railroad. forwarded a letter 90
President John Mitchell. OF the United
Mine Workers OF America, notifying
him that the operators committee are
willing 20 meet the miners committee
at any date Mt Mitchell may select
President Baer's Letter Is IN reply
60 a communication from President
Mitchell. 81 which the leader OF the
miners expressed disappointment be
cause the operators committee had re-
fsctsd the demands OF the miners
without calling their committee into
conference before doing so Mr
Mitchell then asked for another con
ference. In reply Mr. Bser says that
the operators fully expected 70 have
another conference with the miners.
and asserts that President Mitchell
has not replied % a counter PROPOSE
tion made 20 him by the operators
committee. 20 the effect that the min
ers allow the present conditions 60
prevail
President Baer's letter 20 President
Mitchell Is IS follows:
Mr. John Mitchell Chairman. Indianap-
ols:
Dear SRI beg % acknowledge receipt
80 your letter OF March II. There Is 10
misunderstanding between Us a. 20 future
meetings OF the sommitt-e Ths minutes
90 tho meeting held on the 18th or Feb
yuAry 20 which you refer clearly state
the understanding. TO my suggestion
that committees be appointed. the record
81 the minutes IA IS follows:
MI. Mtchcil-What We understand ls
that the separate committees 30 APP
pointed seven on each side. and that the
miners formulate in detail the PROPOSE
tons We have 20 make and give such rea-
sona ~ they choose therefor and after
their scale had been prepared they viii
submit that 20 che seven representative
Of the mine operators for their considera-
ton. that the seven gentlemen represent
Ing the operators VIII then reply 20 the
seven miners. the committee. and ~ there
is finally an agreement or disagreement
- shall De reported back 20 our whole
sommittee-"
M Baer-I have no objections % that
I speak FOR myself only. It 10 a matter
Of detail"
-Nr wnco1-Thers are TO objections.
snlF q seems 20 me IL Will take a little
more time"
MT MitcheIl-We want 20 be perfectly
frank ln this matter and we do not want
% enter into these negotiations under
any misrepresentation. We do not want 90
discover later ora that there has been any
deception. 90 anything that viii lead you
20 believe ve practice deception on our
side or course. any agreement arrived
at by this whole committee would be
subject 20 the ratification OF a convention
81 the anthracite miners"
Mr.. Baer-ls that sO1 DO you come
here without power
Mr.. Mitchell-Anythng that We DO Is
subject 10 ratification"
Mr.. Baer-Au you can do Is 10 make
tentative arrangement and that had to
bs reported 20 the convention and 10 be
passed upon by the convention
M. Mitcheu-Yes. sir But that really
amounts 20 nothing. That Is the instruc-
tons from the Shamokin conferences or
anthracite mine workers"
Mr.. Thonas-If tho anthracite con
vacation votes for IL. will that settle IA or
will IL have 70 60 further. 10 the central
ssmmittee At Indianapolis"
Mr.. Mltchell-ThRt will settle the mat
tar. And there will be no trouble that IS
not important. This committee repre-
ssnta the anthracite mine workers and
they are the executive officers
In accordance with this understanding
ne have frankly and fully answered your
propositions. We make a counter prOpO-
sition 10 you 20 continue the existing con-
6itions. which have been highly beneficial
10 the miners and 20 the community. You
have not answered the proposition we
nado 70 you. We sincerely believe that
Esthing can now be done 20 improve the
situation ~ exists. and has for the
DAat three years existed. In tho coal re-
Gions. The miners are cOntented. They
have been fully employed. They have
been paid large wages. They have saved
noney. All the conditions attending the
WOrkingman's prosperity are as favor
able in the anthracite regions as II IS
possible 70 make them. Under these cir
cumstsnces We have hoped that you
would accept our proposition. and until
We heard from you We stin continued 10
indulge that hope.
assumed from report of a converse
tion over the telephone you had with
L Is. Thomas that owing TO your ar
rangements al indianapolis. an earlier
day than the 10Th OF March would not
suit you for meeting We are prepared
10 meet you at any time you may name.
naturally supposed you would notify Us
when you desired 10 meet US. You will
soserve that your own statement says:
IF there is a nnal agreement or dis
agreement. IL shall be reported back 10
eur whole committee" We never had d
thought OF abrogsting this understanding
and have acted throughout on the as
Of the whole committee TO hear our re-
port. Yours truly.
GEORGE h. BAER. Chairman