New-York tribune., 1906-04-06
WANTS TO ARBITRATE.
MIICHELL'S NEW SCHEME
Miners Would York Pending De-
"Astute," Operators San

pay ahother card at yesterdays conference
win the anthracite operators by promising arbi
tration or the demands by the conciIiation com
Ihttee OF the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission
An MS proposition. which is carefully worded. he
throws a sop to the public by intimating that
."e iiiiiieIs are willing 10 make sacrifices in or
Ger 10 save consumers from the calamity Of an
other prolonged strike The suggestion is s,,t-
1ect to ratification by a convention of the miners
OUT II Inc operators, who Will meet MitchelTs
committee again on Monday. agree to arbitra-
uoh the suspension OF work. he says, will be
called off at once pending arbitration
AS II IN anticipation Of this move of Mitchell
long pamphlet by David Wilcox. president of
The Delaware & Hudson Company. was issued
yesterday, entitled, Comments upon sugges-
tons presented by committee in behalf Of some
OF the anthracite employees 10 the producers Of
anthracite COAL in which he argues that no
new arbitrable facts not covered by the commits
sion have been brought forward.
The operators did not indicate yesterday in a
statement which made their behalf that
Ihey had experienced any change Of heart which
would give comfort TO the miners when they
meet them on Monday. The attitude of the for
mer all along has been that the only thing they
would consider would be a renewal Of the three
year agreement under the award Of the Anthra-
cite Coal Strike Commission. which expired
April !.
OPPONENTS CONFER
The conference began yesterday afternoon in
the rooms of the Trunk Lines Association, No
143 Liberty street. The operators committee
Of seven was on hand, but two Of Mitchells
committee were late that the conference was
started before they arrived. The session ended
al 2:l5 p m, when Mitchell and his aids made
q rush for the elevators
7 have nothing 10 say now" said Mitchell
IF there is any statement il will be given out
al the Ashland House"
President George F. Baer Of the Jersey
Central Railroad Company. chairman Of the en-
ployers' committee. would say nothing. ". =.
Truesdale, president Of the Delaware. Lack
awanna & Western Railroad. said that the
two committees would meet again on Monday
at $50 p. m. The operators then went up 10
the oflce Of President Thomas of the Lehigh
Valley Railroad. on the tenth floor. and had
luncheon. Before the conference it was said on
behalf Of the operators that some malicious
people at midnight on Wednesday had cut the
main pipe from the steam engine 70 the boiler
al the Franklin Colliery. near Wilkes Barre,
Penn. which would delay work for short time
Mitchell made the following statement at the
Ashland House later;
The sub-committees OF operators and miners met
az ! O'Clock to-day. and the miners submitted the
following proposition:
The committee appointed by the shamokin CON
J .. bee saaIo1s & % =; 4h aI!ig .
siions 10 you. dated February = tmeaning the de-
MaTcf ? Wiich was continuation for three years
Of the award Of the Anthracite Coal Strike Com
fylvania ' have decided that in view OF the great
public interests involved, aside from those We
further efforts and even sacrifice Of what We be
and conditions OF employment. in order that
great public calamity may he averted 49, -
e 9 coantion of antbrsciI mine workers
which shall he called al the earliest date possible
the differences between US as stated in our prOpo-
sitiOns and your counter proposition. be referred
for determination and settlement to a board Of
Arbitration composed OF the members Of the present
board of Cancellation provided for in the award OF
George Gray. OF Delaware. or any person he may
please 10 appoint. chairman and umpire, the de-
cision Of this tribunal a majority Of the mem
bers thereof in far as il influences wages, 10 be
until March q, f90S. such decision 10 be fnal and
binding upon all parties In interest; the employees
oI % ] ne aal 1o1 5' nmediate1 and 10 Continue at
work pending the decision o: said board.
This proposition. he said. was signed by him
self and the other six members OF the anthracite
miners committee Of seven.
Mr. Mitchell was asked if work would be re-
sumed IT, on Monday, the operators agreed 10
the proposition even though the convention of
replied that if the operators agreed 10 it on
Monday all the miners would be ordered back 10
work.
STATEMENT FROM THE OPERATORS
The operators later appeared 10 have recon
sdered their decision TO make no statement, for
the following statement was issued on their be-
half last evening:
Il should be observed that in the astutely drawn
proposition Of Nj Mitchell and his committee me me
oiJesfion OF the closed shop and the check Oh-a
scheme requiring. Ia the words OF The miners CoIl-
each employe such amounts as may he levied py
their organization monthly, the amount mus cor
authorized committee at the coliery, plan Whlch
" Moura habaiF - tba etrike funds OF the miners In
their letter OF March 10 the miners coInnlittee ~
a matter OF policy would not make such an
agreement as you request. and as. matter OF law
we are not permitted make il.
on these TWO subjects also the Anthracite Coal
VII made the following vigorous declaration;
The right 10 remain a. Work where others have
others have abandoned Is part Of the personal lib
erty Of citizen ihaI an ,s % pg ei,deTga i;
receive the stern announcement OF the law. All
royernrnent implies restraint and it is not less. but
more necessary in self-governed communities. than
IA ltt make for disorder and law, iessness oar
language Is the language OF "a free people and fails
ctizen 70 work when he pleases. for whom he
pleases. and on what terms he peases. can be sue
as well the common law. forhids that this right
should be- assaii"a Win HnpGhlty II Is VAN 10 say
cease work. OF takes the place Of one who has
aba ndoned his work helps defeat the aspirations
Of men who seek TO obtain better recompense for
teir labor and better conditions OF ,fcbe,r.
committee ahandons the proposal for a one-yeaI
aErren]e ] na xpiFe on Apr iss-a PRESIDENTIAL
wear. anordng q new opportuIiitg 10 axe IIs
20 extend the findings OF the Coal Commission until