The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-11

~ J of'~ ~f1iN TSA
ling that these acts Of violence will soon b,
repeated or ever exceeded unless we sur
render to their demands. Not only havt
they lain idle at our colieries before re,
ceiving any reply to our demands, but mel
attempting to wor X have already beer
actually wounded, and others, in many
# places, have been inundated by threats
ibeatings or a similar display OF force. Tit
hremen and men running the pumps that
are necessary to prevent the flooding OF
mines are 30 frequently and persistently
threatened that many Of them say they
must quit work. II this be a fair sample
of a Republican form OF government, al
good citizens may we'll pray for a despotism
VIOLENCE THAT WOULD DISGRACE RUSSIA.
I'm view of these we'll known facts, we
contend that 1t would be better that our
mines shall lie idle for years than that we
shall acoede to the highwayman-lik de-
mands Of an organization that lacks either
the wisdom or the ability to restrain it's
members from acts of violence that would
disgrace the much despised Russia.
There is another important question
that may as we'll be settled now as hereafter,
which is: Has our Government itself the
power and disposition to protect life and
property They neveS forget to collect
enormous taxes from anthracite proper
ties. Let us demand from them the protec-
ton that is our due. and see if we receive it.
J q But if your committee shall decide that
In Difference to public opinion some offer
OF arbitration must be made, we submit
that it should be only to the same body
that met in 1902 and 1908, or to at least five
members thereof. They became thoroughly
familiar with all the foundation condi-
tions. None of the members was especially
identified with either side Of the controversy.
y A reference to the Cancellation board land
an umpire) would be a reference to the
umpire alone. These matters are certainly
too important to be placed in the control of
any one man, no matter how fair or com
petent.
In the event Of submission to the original
strike commission we, of course, protest
against any submission Of questions already
adjudicated, like the closed shop col
lection of dues or the suggestion OF any
term less than five years during which the
award shall be binding.
AXE THE CONSUMER PAY.
"We further suggest that il the submits
sion Is made and the result be an increase
in the cost of production then the amount
Of such increased cost should be added at
once to the market price of the product.
NOU~WltnSU8nOlD2 the OH repeated state
ments and general impression that the
profits of the business are enormous some
of us are unfortunately aware of the fact
that many collieries have been operated
at a loss even during the last three years.
II is surely bad enough to sacrifice hun-
dreds Of thousands Of tons of coal that
can never be replaced without being obliged
to pay for the privilege.
If consumers NATURALLY, perhaps, think
ing OF their own comfort and convenience
40 ~ t~l,HA-~~N b. NhA L..
and order as to compel us to abandon a
contest for right and decent government
we are ready il necessary to undertake,
then they should pay the cost of the sur
render that they compel. However, we wish
to reaflrm our belief and strong desire that
until an organization shall arise that shall
have both the desire and the ability to
compel obedience to law and order there
shall be no submission to arbitration"
This protest was drawn up at the meeting
by II: H. Ashley as president of the An
thracite Coal Operators Association and
by ffty-seven member of the association.
ACCEPT TERM.
Mr.. Cake was authorized to present this
protest to the committee yesterday before
the meeting with the miners. He also was
en- powered to agree with the other men,
bsrs of the committee, should he think best,
on a shorter term for the proposed agree
ment to last. Acting under this authority |
Mr.. Cake, after making the protest, ao-
cepted the three year clause.
When the conference was called all Of
the miners conference committee were
tors Immediately read to them the reply
they had drawn UP. 1t rehearsed the de-
mands of the union, which IL describes a
recognition Of the union, check off, limita- !
ton OF the number of men permitted to
work under a contract miner, limitation
OF the amount Of work which may be hone
by each miner, no termination OF employ
ment of any individual without arbitration,
and supervision of our mining operations
generally"
TIL reply went on to say that the miners
proposal even involved the submission of
the question of the operators making an
agreement with the United Mine Workers
OF America to the exclusion Of non-union
workers--a question: said the operators.
which We did not submit to the anthracite
strike commission for reasons then stated,
In which we were fully justified by that
commission"
Then the reply goes on:
ALL THE QUESTIONS ONCE DECIDED.
Every question that you nave presented
was In some form OF other, after careful
Investigation, pa ssed upon by the anthracite
strike commission, a commission composed
Of disinterested parties. The award 1t made
has been faithfully lived up to. Although
the duration OF the award was limited to
April 1, 1905, 1t was our expectation and that
Of the public that the principles upon which
II was made would be permanent and con-
tinuing. That expectation was justified.
the commission In its hearings and
In its award was guided by the Presidents
desire that 1t should endeavor to
the relations between the employers
and the wage workers in the anthracite coal
nelds on a Just and permanent basis"
We cannot assent to reope the funda-
questions decided by the anthracite
cosl commission. They have formulated
principles and rules Of right to govern the
between employer and employee
have received the hearty assent OF
I'll good citizens Of the land.
We stand firmly on the principles go clearly
in this award. No new COM
or arbitration should have the power
override them. Any arbitration that
foes not permanently settle such questions
the parties Is a farce. II 10 essential
10 the welfare OF this country that these
principles shall be firmly maintained, just
ls 1t 10 essential TO the administration OF
Justice that the precedents Of the courts
hall be followed. go that every Citizen may
we'll understand his rights and duties.
The operators concede that differences
10 TO such matters as wages may at times
- anA lot 30 orhitra ITO" Tn az. n..o..