Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-06
Mitchell Says There
Will Be No
Strike
Such Action at This Time
Would Be Height
of Folly
Prediction Made That Men viii
All Be at Work by May
IA on Three Years
Contract
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
SCRANTON, Pa, May Son the
advice of President Mitchell, repre-
senting the subscale committee the
miners convention today unanimously
voted to adopt the first proposition of
the operators for a continuation of the
award of the anthracite coal commits
sion with the modification that the
term for which 1t is to continue shall
be mutually agreed upon. The opera
tors suggestion was that it should
be at least three years.
The action of the convention, to-
gether with request for conference
on Monday, was telegraphed by Presi-
dent Mitchell to Chairman George f.
Baer of the operators committee. An
answer was received agreeing to a
conference at o'clock Monday after
noon at the Jersey Central offices in
this city.
Three-Year Agreement
The only matters to be discussed at
the conference are the length of time
the awards shall continue and the pro-
visions that there shall be no discrim-
ination against the men who obeyed
the Mine Workers suspension order
1t is practically certain that the opera
tors will not accede to any suggestion
for two-year agreement, as that
WOulu tuIOW L1G IlGAL conference
a presidential year, and as the miners
will not want long term agreement,
the chances are that a three-year
agreement will be eventually entered
upon.
An intimation has reached here from
President Baer that the operators will
not discriminate against the miners
now on suspension, and the local rep
resentatives of the coal companies say
the thinQ lnnka fborafOro &c,
If a strike had been averted and the
miners will return to work probably
on Monday, May IA,
President MitcheII's Address
In his address to the convention. in
presenting the report of the scale
committee, Mr.. Mitchell said:
II am in favor of raising the low-paid
men to the standard of the high paid
men. During the six or seven years
that / have been in the movement in
the anthracite region 1 have learned to
know much about conditions here.
want to assure you that I am not at all
1 believe they should be improved
I'm considering the policy of the or
ganization we must consider its possi-
bilities. If / were sure such strike
would be successful that 1t could win,
that you would stand together, 1 would
advise you to strike and stay away
from the mines until we got better con-
ditions.
Not in Shape for a Strike
''But from the information I have re-
ceived from all parts of the region I
am fearful that our people are not in
shape for a strike.
81 know that there are many among
us who are not in sympathy with a
strike movement. We must retain what
we have rather than lose what we have
gained in the last two strikes.
"In deciding this question, may I
ask you to do it. without passion or
sentiment. but with due regard to
what Is best now. Whatever your de-
cision is, whether 1t be strike or whether
it be work, I ask you to stand together,
accepting without reservation the con-
clusion of the majority"
Statement of President
At the close of the convention Presi-
dent Mitchell made the following
statement:
For several months we have been
endeavoring to negotiate wage scale
and adjustment of conditions of em-
ployment with the representatives of
the anthracite coal mining companies.
During these negotiations we have
made number of propositions, each of
WiliIH materially AllOOiHcu OuT OIlBlIldl
demands We did this not because we
were convinced that our original prop
ositions were unfair or wrong, but
purely for the purpose of finding a
common ground upon which we could
reach an agreement that would secure
and maintain peace in the anthracite
coal industry.
eve still believe that our first prop
osition was reasonably fair, notwith-
standing the notifications we have
made since in the interest of peace.
Nov, however, we are face to face
with the alternative of continuing at
work under our former conditions or
declaring a strike. In this crisis your
committee recommends the following
policy:
Bases of Agreement
"First-That we agree to work on the
basis of the award of the anthracite
coal strike commission for such per-
iod of time as may be agreed upon
mutually between the representatives
of the anthracite coal mining com
panies and our scale committee pro-
vided that all men who suspended work
on April or since that time or who
have been dismissed. are renstated in
their former positions and working
places.
"second-That the scale committee
proceed at once to meet the represent
tatves Of the coal companies with a
view to securing an agreement upon
this basis.
"Third-That the convention remain
IN session until Tuesday and the scale
committee shall report to the conven-
tion at that time.
.'Fourth-That the suspension OF
work shall continue until an agreement
has been made and its terms approved
by the convention"