The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-04-06
RUMORS OF PEACE.
John Mitchell on Behalf
of the Miners Argued
at Length Why the De-
mands Should be
Granted.

tween the anthracite scale committee
of the United Mine Workers of Amer1-
ca and the operators of the big hard
coal properties were widely circulated
following today's meeting, they are
based entirely on the fact that instead
of negotiations being broken off an
other meeting has been arranged Tor
Thursday afternoon.
The proceedings of today's meeting,
according to one of those who was
there were of distinctly informal
character. e. b. Thomas. of the Le-
high Valley, acted as chairman and
John Mitchell on behalf of the miners,
made lengthy argument as to why
the demands of the miners should be
granted. lie quoted at length from the
scale now in effect, declaring that at-
ter the present market price of coal
is considered, the cost of production
according to the operators own fig
ures and the fact that nearly all of
there could hardly be any good rea-
son why the men should not receive
a substantial advance in wages.
He discussed the contract miners'
situation at great length, citing sta
tistics to show that the contract min
ers should receive the ten per cent
advance in wages above the rates pro-
Yided for in the award of the anthra
cite commission. Mr. Mitchell waXed
eloquent, it is reported, in discussing
the question of the eight-hour day,
declaring that if it was granted he
felt certain the operators would never
regret it as it would increase their
efficiency to a great extent.
OWED MUCH TO UNION.
He declared that the operators owed
a great deal to the union as it was be-
cause of the attitude of the organiza-
ton that the personnel of the en-
ployes in the anthracite workings had
been raised to its present high stand
ing. He cited the recent figures made
public by the operators indicating that
to grant the demands of the miners
hOuld lllNlOuOC lllS NOoJ vi GOul dG
least $120 per ton and questioned
their accuracy. He claimed that there
was no reason why the minor increase
asked by his fellow workmen should
increase the cost any considerable
amount and further stated that he be-
lieVed it would be possible for the
operators to grant the advance and
still sell coal 80 the public at the pres
ent ruling figure.
Mr. Mitchell was frequently inter
rupted by President Baer, of the Phil
adelphia G Reading, Wilcox, of the
Delaware & Hudson and Truesdale, of
the Lackawanna, who asked him how
he arrived at his conclusions, but the
leader of the miners organizations
stuck to his guns and the debate oc-
Casionally became somewhat animated
although the evidences of good feeling
were continued on the surface at least.
NICOLL'S ARGUMENT.
Following Mr.. Mitchell, District
President Nicolls made an argument
along similar lines, he going espec-
tally into the ''abuses" that the con-
tract miners now have to contend
with. He claimed that contract min |
ers and their assistants are often re-
quired by the comapny to perform
work and that they lose money there |
by, the amount they being paid only
taking care of the time they are act !
ually employed, while, according to |
Mr. Nicolls, they are at times, kept |
waiting the convenience of other en-
ployes. He also quoted statistics |
which he claimed showed that under
the present system the contract min
ers in the anthracite field are receiving |
less when their work is taken into |
than are the miners of |
the bituminous fields. Here, Mr.. |
again took the floor and read !
a prepared statement showing the |
ratio of wages in the hard |
and soft coal district which, accord |
ing to his views, were favorable to |
the latter under their new agreement. |
He then urged the operators to follow |
the example set by Mr. Robbins and
other big bituminous operators and
give the men "the recognition they |
have earned by their faithful work.
THE DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The official statement of the days
as handed to the news
paper men by President E. B. Thomas
was as follows:
''The committee met at noon and
elected President f. B. Thomas, OF
the Lehigh Valley Railroad. chair
man of the committee of fourteen
Mr. Mitchell spoke at some length,
out the reasons why the min
ers thought that the operators should
grant all of their demands. He was
followed by District President Nieolls,
who made similar argument Be
cause no conclusion had been report