The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-06
Request Of MltCheII'S Men Not
Likely TO Be Granted.
FORMAL ANSWER MONDAY.
Miners viii GO Back to Work II
Operators Yield the Point.

Questions in Dispute BE Referred to
the Cancellation Board, With Judge
Gray or Some One Selected by Him 40
UmpIre-EmpI0yers stick to II That
They Cannot Recognize the Union.
A proposition to submit the present de-
mands of the anthracite coal miners TO
arbitration, the de cision to be binding
upon employers and employees for two
years from April 1, 1905, was made by John
Mitchell and his committee of miners at the
adjourned meeting of the miners and opera
tors held yesterday afternoon in this city.
A statement given out later in the after
noon by the operators indicates that the
proposition will be rejected by the opera
tors. The answer is to be given on Mon
day afternoon.
Mitchells proposition is that the board
OF arbitration shall be the present board of
Cancellation appointed under the award
Of the anthracite coal strike commission,
the very board that the miners ask to have
reorganized. Mitchell would have Judge
George Gray, or any one he might select, as
umpire and chairman. Judge Gray was
chairman of the anthracite coal strike
commission. The board of Cancellation
lis composed Of three operators and three
miners.
The conference was called at 1 o'clock
In the Central Building at 143 Liberty street.
Messrs. Baer, Truesdale, Kerr, Wilcox,
Williams, Thomas and Cake were present
for the operators and Messrs. Mitchell.
Fahy, Hartlein, Dettrey, Gallagher,
Nichols and Dempsey for the miners,
AS soon as the meeting got started Mitchell
read this proposal;
H MINERS PROPOSAL.
'The committee appointed by the shamo-
kin convention on December Il last, repre-
senting the employees of va rious COM
panies operating the mines, washeries
and breakers in the anthracite coal regions,
having under consideration our PROPOSE
ton to you dated February 81 and your
counter proposition of March o, which
was a continuation for three years of the
award of the anthracite coal strike COM
mission, and the letter from the Governor
of Pennsylvania, have decided that in view
Of the great public interests involved
aside from those we represent directly
it is our duty to make some further effort
and even a sacrifice Of what we believe to
be justly our dues in the matter of wages
and conditions of employment in order that
a great public calamity may be averted.
Therefore, we propose that, subject to
the approval of a convention OF Minis
workers, which shall be called at the
earliest possible date, the differences be,
tween us as stated in our proposition and
your counter proposition De referred for
determination and settlement to a board
Of arbitration composed of members of
the present board OF Cancellation provided
for in the award Of the anthracite coal
strike commission, with Judge George Gray
or any person he may eppoint to act a.
chairman and umpire, the decision of this
tribunal or of a majority of it's members
thereof, in so far as it influences wages.
to be effective from April l., 1905, and to
continue in force until March 81, zoos,
such decision to be final and binding upon
all parties in interest; the employees Of
the anthracite mines .washeries and breakers
to resume work Immediately, and to con-
tinue work pending the decision of such
board"
This communication was signed by
Mitchell as chairman and the other MEM
bers Of the subcommittee of seven of the
scale committee.
MINERS NOT TO RESUME WORK AT ONCE.
The meeting lasted only a little more
than an hour. Practically nothing else
49, .z-l -Is.&.i-- All. 5000.
ton. As soon as this had been done the
operators asked for an adjournment until
Monday and the miners agreed.
Mitchell went Immediately to the Ash
land House, where he lost no time in giving
out the communication, and also the state
ment that this time the operators had asked
for the adjournment.
"Will the miners return to work until
the answer is received2" Mr.. Mitchell was
asked.
THE suspension of work will continue
pending the operators decision was the
answer.
While Mitchell would not say anything
more, it was stated by the committee that
the miners would be ordered back to the
mines on Monday by the scale committee,
which had the power, should a favorable
be made by the operators. 1t
will not require any action by the con-
vention to bring this about.
II the answer should be favorable; it
was said, the convention of miners would
be called together within a day or two,
either at Wilkesbarre or Hazleton. Their
action would be nothing more than formal.
No decision has to be made regarding the
action to follow an ~unfavorable answer,
but from the attitude of Mitchell and his
associates 1t was plain that they meant
to issue a strike order. Neither Mitchell
nor any Of his men would give any opinion
as to the probable answer Of the operators.
1t was apparent that they had high hopes
of getting public sentiment on their side
by this latest move.
OPERATORS TALK IT ov Err.
As soon as the miners departed yester-
day Mr.. Baer and his associates adjourned =,
TO a private meeting room in the sams '
building and were together tsarly .h.sa -.