The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1906-05-09
THREE YEAR AGREEMENT
Anthracite Miners to Return to
Work on Scale Of 1903.

Agreement but Operators First
Proposition Was Finally Accepted.
All Men to Be Re-Employed Except
Those Guilty of Violence.
New York, May 8.-After carrying
on negotiations for nearly three
months the subcommittee represent
ing the anthracite mine workers and
operators of Eastern Pennsylvania yes
terday agreed to continue the award
Of the strike commission for another
three years, and the men will return
to work as soon as practicable, prob
Rbly Monday.
All miners who have not committed
Siolence against persons or property
will be re-employed and no one will be
Disseminated against because of any
activity he may have taken In the
strike movement. The agreement is
subject to the ratification of the tri-
district convention of mine workers
at Scranton today, but there is not
the slightest doubt that the delegates
will approve the action of their repre-
sentatives.
This outcome of a dispute which
threatened to develop into long and
bitter struggle and paralyze a great
industry, was looked upon with con-
siderable satisfaction by the coal road
presidents, as the agreement entered
into is their first proposition made,
early in March, in reply to the mine
workers original demands.
The miners had little to say regard
ing the agreement except that it was
the best they could get. They point
ed out, however, that the agreement
entered into is the first general agree.
ment that has ever been signed be-
tween the operators and miners, and
they look upon it as a step forward in
their efforts to have regular agree
ments with their employers.
While the compact entered into was
predicted last week. the agreement
was not reached without final strug-
gle on the part of the miners to get
something more. President Mitchell,
in stating to the operators the action
of the Scranton convention, asked
that the proposed agreement be made
for two years.
In arguing for the two-year term he
said the cost Of living might increase
considerably in three years and that
other changes in the mining industry
might come that would make the pres.
ent wage scale unfair to the men. The
operators in their reply said they felt
that any contingency that might arise
was covered by the award of the
strike commission and they concluded
by asking that the award be continued
for three years. This was then agreed
to.
In taking up the question of dis
elimination against some of the men
1t was the intention of the mine own
ers to take back only such men as
they chose to re-employ, but Presi-
dent Mitchell contested this point so
strongly that the operators withdrew
1t.
The session was the longest of the
series, lasting nearly two hours.
Every member was present with the
exception of District Secretary George
Hartlein, who is Ill at his home In
Shamokln, Pa. AS the operators en-
tered the rooms of the Trunk Line as
sociation, where the meeting was held,
they appeared to be in the best of hui
NOR and cracked jokes with the re-
porters as they passed by. The min
ers, however, entered the room in
their usual quiet way, having nothing
to say,
The first intimation that an agree
ment had been reached came from Mr..
Baer, who left the room to have
copies made of the agreement. In re-
ply to question he smiled and said:
Everything is lovely and the goose
hangs high" After the meeting ad-
journed Mr.. Baer handed copy Of
the agreement to representative Of
the operators, who read 1t to the wait
ing newspaper men,
The district presidents and hecre-
taries left for Scranton during the
evening, as President Mitchell Is to
preside over the convention In that
city. No date has been officially set
for the resumption of work. 1t was
thought that Thursday would be Sc
lected, but as some of the mines are
not in good condition for an immedi-
ate resumption the beginning of opera
tions may be delayed until Monday.
This is the sixth week of the suspen-
sion and represents loss In produc-
ton of about 100000 tons.