The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-03-23
COAL DIGGERS
ARE PASSIVE
VIII Go to Extremes in Order to
Avert a Strike.
SEEK ANOTHER FARLEY
Mitchell Writes Baer 10 Conservative
LItler Requesting Another confer
ence Before laklng FINAL Action.


President John Mitchell of the
United Mime workers Ct America has
mailed to George +. Baer, chairman
OF the anthracite coal operators COM
mittee, his reply to the committees
communication rejecting the de-
mands OF the miners organization.
The letter, in part, is as follows
indianapolis, Ind, March II, 1906.
Mr. George f. Baer, Chairman,
Philadelphia-Dea Sir: Referring
again to your communication dated
March 10, with accompanying docu-
ments, aud TO our reply thereto,
write to say that have submitted
to our committee the answer made
by your committee to the propositions
presented by us
1t is unnecessary to state that we
were keenly disappointed to learn
that our demands were rejected in
toto, and that our arguments in favor
of them had received SO little con-
sideration at your hands that they
wore practically ignored in your re-
ply to us.
"We have again reviewed the scale
presented for your consideration; have
compared it with the scale of wages
paid for similar classes of labor in
other coal producing states and dis
tricts, and we are satisfied beyond the
peradventure of doubt that the wages
proposed are not in excess Of-indeed
that they are not as high as wages
paid in the bitumincus mining district
of our country.
Judging from the language en-
ployed in your answer to us, it is
perfectly evident that we failed to
make clear or that you failed to I'M
derstand the real import of the prop
ositions submitted by us
1--WE wish to assure you that we
are not unmindful Of the great pub
lie interests involved in this contro-
versy as to our future relations, nei-
Their arc we unappreciative Of the
splendid efforts made by the anthra-
cite coal strike commission to estab-
lish relationship between us that
would insure q just and permanent
peace; but, il you will refer to the
award, you will find that the
commission was in some doubt
as to the permanency of its
findings and expressed the hope that.
at the expiration Of the award the re-
lations OF employer and employee
would have so far improved as TO
make impossible such condition as
existed throughout the country in
consequence of the strike in the an
thracite region.
1--WE had entertained the hope that
our adherence to the letter and the
spirit Of the award and the absence
OF local or general strikes in the past
three years would have appealed more
strongly to your confidence and that
we might reasonably expect serious
consideration of our claims at this
time
while it may be true that, on the
part of the operators, there has been
no serious cause for complaint during
the past three years, we wish to as
sure you that, in expressing this opin-
ion, you do not reject our views. Not
only has there been criticism among
the miners, but what is more import
ant, there exists much cause for
criticism and complaints.
However, we repeat that the in
terQsts involved are so vast that we
are not willing to break off negotia-
tions without first making further
effort to reconcile our differences.
We therefore, propose that further
conference or conferences be held
between now and April l.
"If this suggestion meets with
your approval, we shall be pleased to
arrange with you a date upon which
our joint committee may reconyene.
I am yours truly,
urnrrNv NrTT(TJr~T Htof~roor