Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-05-05
Report Of The Scale Committee,
Recommending the Return Of
the Coal Miners TO Work.
ADDRESS BY MITCHELL
Unallerably Opposed to Any Scheme
Inat Would Tend to Reduce The
Wages Of Any Class Of Employees.
Associated Press Disraicn by speolal Wire.


Scranton, Pa, May D. The report
OF the scale committee recommending
the return of the miners to work under
the Anthracite Commission award,
was adopted by the convention after
% minutes discussion. The conven-
tion took a recess until Tuesday TO
give the scale committee opportunity
TO confer with the operators.
Eager for the recommendation of the
scale committee TO guide them in de-
ciding whether there should be peace
or war in the hard-coal fields, the
delegates to the United Mine Workers
Convention reassembled this morning,
az 10 O'Clock, in the County Court
House.
The sub-scale committee, to which
was referred the detail Of formulating
the proposal TO be submitted to the
convention, met before this mornings
s ssion to put the final touches to the
report.
OF the two alternatives before the
committee which would insure a
peaceful solution of the question, the
acceptance of the anthracite award had
a strong support. 1t was urged in
behalf Of this plan that it would defeat
the evident intention of the operators
10 force a strike and to arouse public
sentiment against the United Mine
Workers.
Those favoring the continuance Of
the 1903 scale refrained from asking
the operators to arbitrate on the bas is
proposed by George +. Baer and his
conferrees, on the ground that the plan
IS unfair and does not include all the
conditions which the mind workers
want adjusted. The Cancellation
Board, as the arbitrating body for
local grievances, is a part of the ac-
ceptance of the 1903 plan. The members
of the scale committee, who favor re-
| turning TO work under the old scale,
say they will be able TO strengthen
l the union for a more decisive struggle
/ in the future. Many of the delegates
/ regard the acceptance of any of the
! operators proposals as a defeat They
are Of the radical element and were
/ strong for a strike a any cost when
they arrived here Thursday. Since
| hearing the discussions in the con
vention they have not modified theil
/ opinions much, but are willing to en-.
terrain the suggestions of John Nit
chell and his advisers. 1t is diff
1 cult for them to understand why the
union will not lose prestige with
the public if it sends the men bach
to work without gaining any conces
sions after keeping them idle for sil
weeks.
In addressing the deli legates after tn,
convention met, President Mitchell
said he is opposed TO a limited form
of arbitration, that such a form o.
arbitration might jeopardize what thi
men already have, that it might TAX
from the income of the higher pal,
men and add it to that Of the men re
ceiving less money. Il am unalter
ably opposed 10 any scheme that viii
tend TO reduce the wages Of any clas
of employees, be said. 1T is no
right 10 take cent from any o
them p"
National Secretary Treasurer Wilsoi
followed Mr.. Mitchellr, and the ton
! Of his remarks was favo able to peace
, Mr.. Wilson said if the men believes
themselves in a position 20 strike h
would advise them 10 strike and {
remain away from the mines unit
they had gained what they' wer
striking for. lie was fearful, how
3 ever that should a strike be inaugu
= rated the miners would ind the CON
! panies in a position to stand ont in
e definitely and eventually wreck tn
Y organization. He said II believe tn
P operators in a large measure woul
welcome a strike, as they have O
e hand a considerable supply Of surplu
! coal an it would give them the excus
they are seeking for to squeeze the cor
sumers with an advance in the prices
and all the miners know that sue
action on their part is unwarranteC
Are we then TO give them the excu:
! they are wishing for? II the operator
. believe in strike, and we belie'
they do, it would be better for us
] remain at work nnd claim what W
: have than to TO strike and lose VIII
u we have already SO dearly fougl
10 for. "