Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-03-19
Answers the Operators Com
mittee Which Rejected the De-
mands of the Miners
THE LATTER NOT SATISFIED
Claim is Made That tho Arguments Of
the Mine Workers are Ignored in the
Operators Communication Rejecting
the Demands.-cannot Work Under
Present Schedule.

Indianapolis, Ind, March 19.-Presi-
dent John Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers of America has mailed to
George f. Baer, chairman sof the an
thracite coal operators committee his
reply to the committees communica-
ton rejecting the demands Of the min
ers' organization.
The letter follows:
indianapolis, Ind, March 17.-Mr.
George F. Baer, chairman, Phila-
delphia, Pa. = Dear SIR: Referring
again to your communication, dated
March 10, with accompanying docu-
ments. and te, our reply thereto.
write to say that have submitted 10
our committee the answer made by
your committee to the proposition pre-
scented by u.s. 1t lis unnecessary to state
that we were keenly disappointed to
learn that our demands were rejected
in toto, and that our arguments in ia
vor of them had received so little con-
sideration at your hands that they
were practically ignored in your reply
to us.
1--WE have again reviewed the scale
presented for your consideration; have
compared DIT with the scale Of wages
paid for similar classes of labor In other
coal producing states and districts,
and we are satisfied beyond the per-
adventure of doubt that the wages pro-
posed are not in excess of-indeed
they are not SO high-as the wages
paid in the bituminous districts OF our
country.
g, udging from the language in your
answer to us. il. is perfectly evident
that we failed to make clear or that
you failed to understand the real i'm
port of the propositions submitted by
us.
I'VE wish to assure you that we are
not unmindful Of the great public in
terest involved in this controversy as
to our future relations, neither are we
unappreciative of the splendid efforts
made by the anthracite coal strike
commission to establish a relationship
between such interests that would in
sure a just and permanent peace; but
If you will refer to the award of that
commission you will find that the COM
mission itself was in doubt as to its per-
manency as to findings and expressed
the hope that at the expiration of the
| award the relations of operators and
employees would have so far improved
as to make impossible such a condi-
ton as existed throughout the country
consequent of the strike in the anthra-
cite region. We had entertained the
hope that our adherence to the letter
and the spirit .,f the award and the
absence of local and general strikes
during the past three years, would
have appealed more strongly to your
confidence and that we might expect
serious consideration of our claims at
this time.
When we met in joint conference
at 143 Liberty street, New York City,
on the 18th day of last February, i,
was agreed that when the separate
committees of seven had terminated
their work they should report to the
| committee of the whole. We UNDER
stood this to mean that after we had
| submitted our demands and our reas-
| ons therefor and you had prepared
l yOul ASPAy thOIGIO, IAAS JoiiAe SOlIliAllSlCS
would meet, confer and, il possible,
reach an agreement.
Wants Further Meetings.
| But it would seem, from reading
your reply, that all our propositions
| have been elected and that your final
decision has been given. We trust
| that this conception of your intention
| is incorrect. 1t is our opinion that
neither you nor we can afford to break
off negotiations in this abrupt man
ner. So far as we and the interests we
| represent are concerned we are not
willing to accept any share of the re-
sponsibility this action entails. We
believe that further meetings shoul6
be held and that we should strive earn
! estly and conscientiously to reconcile
our differences.
| .sWhile it may be true that on the
part of the operators there has beer
no serious cause for complaint during
the past three years, we wish to assure
YOU that in expressing this opinion
Won do not reflect our views. Not only
has there been criticism among tbs
miners. but what is more important
| there exists much cause for criticism
and complaint. To such an extent
this true, that we feel it incumben,
upon us to say that we cannot VIII
any degree of contentment or satisfac'
ton. continue to work under presen1
conditions. However, we repeat ina
the interests involved are so vast thai
we are not willing to break off negotla
tions without first making further ef'
| forts to reconcile our differences. we
therefore, propose that further con-
ferences be held between now and the
first of April.
IF this suggestion meets with youl
approval we shall be pleased to ar
range with you, a date upon whlen ou'
| Joint committee may reconvene. an
/ t.,,lu John Mitchell, Chalr-