The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1906-03-19
MITCHELL
SENDS REPLY
LABOR LEADER WRITES TO
DIVINE RIGHT BAER
Is Satisfied That Demands of Miners
Are Not Unr easonable Answers
Charges Against the Miners Wants
to Arrange for Joint Conference.

|
b Indianapolis, Ind, March Io.-Pres-
ident John Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers of America, has mailed to.
George F. Baer, chairman OF the an
thracite coal operators committee his
reply to the committees communica-
ton rejecting the demands Of the mi
ners' organization. r'@ta
The letter, follows:
Referring again to your communi-
cation dated March 10, with accom-
panying documents, and to our reply
thereto, write to say that | have sub
mitted to our committee the answer
made by your committee to the prop,
ositions presented by US. 1t is unnec-
essary to state that we were keenly
disappointed to learn that our demands
were rejected in toto, and that our ar
guments in favor of them had received
so little, consideration at your hands
that they were practically ignored in
your reply to us. ~ lE
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 9TH
| er coal producing states, and districts,
and we are satisfied beyond the pread-
| venture of doubt that the wages pro-
posed are not in excess of--indeed, that
| they are not so high as the wages paid
| in the bituminous mining districts OF
| our country. F. -. +
Judging from the language employ
| ed in your answer to us, it is perfectly
| evident that we failed to make clear
or that you failed TO understand the
| real import of the propositions Submit
| ted by u.s. ~s*6 seh@A3
We wish to assure you that we are
| not unmindful Of the great public in.
terests 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 relationship
between us that would insure a Just
ard permanent peace; but il you will
i refer to the award of that commission,
/ you will find that the commission itself
was in doubt as to the perr1anency of
/ its findings and expressed the hope
that at the expiration OF the award, the
relations OF operator and empioye
would have so far improved as to make
impossible such a condition as existed
throughout the country in consequence
of the strike in the anthracite region
/ 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 during the past three
i tyn.. re
strongly to your confidence and that
consideration of our claims at this
| time. 1 3F
When we met in joint conference
| at, I43 Liberty street, New York city.
on the fifteenth day of last February.
Ii was agreed that when the separate
cominittees OF seven had terminated.
| their work, they should report TO the,
committee Of the whole. We under
i stood this to mean that after we had
1 submitted our demands and our rea1
i sons therefore and you had prepared
4 your reply thereto, the joint committee
would meet, confer and if possible.
lfeach an agreement. But ii would
seem, from reading your reply, that all
our propositions have been rejected
u and that your final decision has been
given. We trust that this conceptions
Of your intention is incorrect. 1T is
our opinion that neither you nor we
Il can afford to break negotiations in this
Il abrupt manner. So far, ais we and
i the interests we represent are concern
Ied, we are willing to accept any share.
Il Of the responsibility this action entails.
4 We believe that further meetings
4 should be held and that we should
strive earnestly and conscientiousIy to-
! i reconcile otir differences.
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 assure
you that in expressing this opinion you
do not reflect our views. Not only
i has there been criticism AMONG the
miners, bit what is more important,
i there exist much cause for criticism
u and complaint. To such an extent is
1 this true that we feel ii incumbent rp-
on us 10 say that we cannot with any
Il degree ot contentfilent or satisfaction,
continue to work under present condiy
tloils However we repeat that the
interests involved are SO vast that we
are not willing TO break of fiegofia-
ti0ns without FIRST making further ef4
forts TO reconcile Our differences. We
/ therefore, propose that further con-
ference or conferences be held between
4 now and the first of April
this suggestion meets with your
approval, we shall be pleased to ar-
Il range. with yolL a date upon which our
4 joint committee may reconvene.
am, yours truly.