Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-03-31
A MESSAGE To
THE PRESIDENT
Miners and Operators Appeal to
Washington Winder Proposes
Commission.

SiuihN IlOli liltltllld iOiIN vi opih -
Winder, John Mitchell and Francis l..
Robbins were discussed.
The president said that he is anxious
1that n strike be averted and is ready TO
ldo all in his power to prevent Il clash
between the miners and operators. but
he does not think the present moment
o%pportunef for government interfer-
encc. wy It he may do in he near fu.
ture is not disclosed. In fact, IL deci
sion regarding action by the president
has been determined upon.
The telegram from Mr.. Winder pro
poses that the president appoint a COM
mission TO investigate all matters
which in the Judgment of such Il COM
mission had an important bearing up
on the scale of wages which should he
paid all classes of labor in coal mines
of the territory involved.
The telegram signed by Messrs.
Mitchell and Robbins sent to President
Roosevelt says:
Responding to your suggestion, we
have fulfilled I'll highest duties as citi-
zens of our country by advocating Il
bitumino,ls coal scale on n reasonable
compromise. We understand that a tel
cgram has been sent to you purportinS
to speak for 80 per cent of the bitumi-
nous tonnage. That telegram does not
represent the real facts. At least one
half of the tonnage in eastern Penn
s%ylvania, Ohio. Indiana and Illinois is
produced by operators who are willing
TO pay the compromise scale
1t is evident that an optimistic view
is held at the White House regarding
the impending struggle. 1t is regard
ed as doubtful that Il strike declared
at this time will prove as serious as
that of three years ago. 1t is pointed
out that the operators themselves are
divided on the question and that there
are indications that the serious aspect
of the situation may be resolved with
out government intervention.
A Wilkesbarre dispatch say that
some of the coal companies in that re-
gion have issued orders to take the
mules out of the mines and put the
collieries in condition for an idle spell.
At the headquarters of the United
Mine Workers there the statement is
llt'ut thdl llt oI0Nl Htit VI wa
be obeyed by the men. 1t is no be-
lieved that the operators will attempt
to work any of their mines. The belief
prevails in the business community
that the miners and operators will
reach an agreement and that the sus-
pension will be of short duration.
A report from Indianapolis says that
the Mine Workers national convention
~ias- adopted the Perry resolution.
Under it there will be no bituminous
strike at any place except where Il To-
cal mine refused to sign the 1903 scale.
The national convention of the Unit
ed Mine Workers of America has adj
journed sine die.
The anthracite mine operators have
decided to meet the miners committee
in New York On Tuesday. April 3, as
requested by John Mitchell, of the
miners. for a further conference on the
wage scale in the anthracite coal field.
1t had been reported that the operators
would refuse because the miners were
ordered to strike. but n telegram from
President George f. Baer. the chair
man of the operators committee, to
President Mitchell accepting the offer
has been received by him. Mr.. Baer's
message said:
Although your order TO quit work
pending negotiations is most eXtraor-
binary. the delay in meeting having
been yours and not ours. nevertheless
we will meet your committee as re-
quested."
General sentiment in the Pittsburg
district of the bituminous coal fields.
based upon the news of the action of
the miners convention at indianapolis,
is that while a strike is now inevitable
that in western Pennsylvania at least
it will be of short duration. BY the
adoption of the resolution permitting
miners to sign the 1903 wage scale
wherever it is offered by the operators
the way is opened for the operation of
the western Pennsylvania mines. 80
per cent of which are controlled by
the Pittsburg Coal company.
The national miners convention by Il
vote of 400 to > has referred the
question of the expulsion of Patrick
Dolan and Uriah Bellingham of Pitts
burg to the district board of western
Pennsylvania.
The strike probably will bring out of
the mines of the country OH Monday
some 100000 miners from the anthra-
cite and the bituminous fields. These
will remain on strike, it is said, until
settlements have been signed by dis.
trict or with individual operators. The
only mineLs. it is said. that will go TO
work OH Monday will be $4,000 in the
New river. Pocahontas, Paramount and
central fields of West Virginia. where
a truce has been signed temporarily.
The national executive board met
this morning and took up the details of
managing the strike. 1t is empowered
to decide as to what employees will be
allowed to continue work at the mines
TO prevent the destruction of the prop
erty during the suspension.
The convention cost the miners or