The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-05-08

All Miners Who Have Not Committed
Violence Against Persons or Prop
erty Viii Be Re-employed.
Text of Agreement.

New York May AFTER carrying on
negotiations for nearly three months sub
committees representing the Anthracite
mine workers and operators of eastern
Pennsylvania today agreed to continue
the award of the strike commission for
another three years. and the men will
return to work as soon as practicable.
probably Monday
All the miners who have not committed
violence against persons or property will
be re-employed, and no one will be dis
eliminated against because of any ac-
tvity he may have taken In the strike
movement. The agreement is subject
to the ratification of the tr-district con-
venton of the mine workers at Scranton
tomorrow, but there is not the slight
est doubt that the delegates will approve
the action of their representatives
This outcome of dispute which threat
ened to develop into a long, bitter strug-
gle and paralyze great industry, was
looked upon with considerable satisfaction
by the coal road presidents as the agree
ment entered into is their first PROPOSE
tion, made early in March, in reply to
miners had little to say regarding the
agreement, except that 1t was the best
they could do. They pointed out how
ever, that the agreement entered into is
the best general agreement that has ever
been signed by the operators and miners
and they look upon it as step forward
in their efforts to have regular agreements
with their employers. While the compact
entered into today was predicted las.
week. the agreement was not reached
without a final struggle on the part of
the miners to get something more. Presi-
dent Mitchell, in stating TO the operators
the action of the Scranton convention,
asked TINT the proposed agreement be
made for two years. in arguing for the
two year term he said the cost of Iiv-
ing 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
the men. The operators In their reply said
| they felt that any contingency that might
| arise was covered by the awards of the
strike commission. and they concluded
| by asking that the award be continued
for three years. This was then agreed
to.
VIII Employ All Men.
In taking up the question of discrimi-
nation against some of the men 1t was
the intention of the mine owners to take
back only such men as they choose to
re-employ, but President Mitchell con-
| tested this point so strongly that the
operators withdrew it,
The first ntimaton that an agreement
had been reached came from Mr.. Baer,
who left the room to have copies made of
the agreement. In reply to a question
he smiled and said:
Everything is lovely and the goose
hangs high"
After the meeting adjourned Mr.. Baer
handed a copy of the agreement to a
| representative of the operators who read
1t to the waiting newspaper men. The
text of the agreement reached at today's
conference is as follows:
Whereas, pursuant to the letter of
submission signed by the undersigned in
| 1902 all questions at issue between the
| respective companies and their own en-
ployes. whether they belong to a union
or not were submitted to the anthracite
| coal strike commission to decide as to
| the same, and as to the conditions of
employment between the respective com
| panies and their own employees and the
| said strike commission under date of
| March 49, 1908. duly made and filed it's
award upon the subject matter of the sub
| mission and provided that said award
| should continue in force for three years
| from April /. 1903, and the said period
! has expired.
Now, therefore, it is stipulated be-
| tween the undersigned in their own be-
| half in so far as they have power to
| represent any other parties In interest
| that the said award and the provisions
| thereof, and any action which has been
| since taken pursuant thereto, either by
| the conciliation board or otherwise shall
be extended and shall continue in force
| for three years from April /. 1906, name
| ly, until March 81. 1909. with like force
and effect as If that had been originally
prescribed as its duration. That work
shall be resumed as soon as practicable.
and that all men who have not COM
mitted violence to person or property shall
be re-employed In their old positions.
Signed: George #. Baer. E. b. Thomas,
w Fl. Truesdale. David Wilcox John ID.
Kerr, Morris Williams. Joseph r. Cake,
John Mitchell. p. d. Nichols, John Demp-
sey. w. Detterey, John P. Gallaghery.
John Fahey."
The district presidents and secretaries
left for Scranton this evening. President
Mitchell will go later. reaching that city
In time to preside over the convention.
No date has been officially 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
ar immediate resumption, the beginning
Of operations may be delayed until Mon
day. This Is the sixth week of the sus-
pension, and represents loss in produc-
tion of about 100000 tons.