The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-03-22
MINERS QUIESCENT.
Unwilling to Accept Respon-
sibftity fer Coal Strike; {
\NXiOUSFORCONFERENCE
Mitchell Sends Letter to Baer With
Request for Further ParIey-Sets
Forth Grievances of the
Miners.


United Mine Workers cf America has
mailed to George F. Baer, chairman
of the anthracite coal operators COM
mittee, his reply to the committees
communication rejecting the de-
mands of the miners organization.
The letter, in part, is as follows:
indianapolis, Ind, March II, 1906.
Mr.. George F. Baer, Chairman,
Philadelphia.-Dear Sir: Referring
again to your communication dated
March 10, with accompanying docu-
ments, and to our reply thereto, I
write to say that I have submitted
to our committee the answer made
by yor. committee to the propositions
presented by us.
1T is unnecessary to state that we
were keenly disappointed to learn
that our demands were rejected In
toto. and that our arguments in favor
of them had received so little con-
sideration at your hands that they
wore practically ignored in your re-
ply to us.
"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
other coal producing states and dis.
tricts, and we are satisfied beyond the
reradventure Of doubt that the wages
proposed are not in excess of-indeed
that they are not as high as wages
paid in the bituminous mining district
OF our country.
Judging from the language en-
oloyed in your answer to us, it ts
perfectly evident that we failed to
make clear or that you failed to un-
lerstand the real import of the prop
)sitions submitted by us.
eve wish to assure you that We
are not unmindful of the great pub
lie interests involved in this contro-
versy as to our future relations, nei-
tfer. are we unappreciative Of the
splendid efforts made by the anthrar
cite coal strike commission to estab-
lish "a relationship between US that
would insure a just and permanent
peace; but, If you will refer to the
award, you will find that the
commission was in some doubt
as to the permanency OF It's
findings and expressed the hope that
at the expil alton of the award the re-
Iations OF employer and employee
would have so far improved as TO-
make impossible such condition a.
existed throughout the country In
consequence OF the strike in the an
thracite region.
1--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 in the past
three years would have appealed more
strongly to your confidence, and that
we might reasonably expect serious
consideration of our claims at this
time
while it may be true that, on the
part OF the operators, there has been
10 serious cause for complaint during
he past three years. we wish to as
ure you that, In expressing this opin-
on, you do not reflect our views. Not
,nly has there been criticism among
he miners, but what is more import
ant, there exists much cause for
criticism and complaints.
However, we repeat that the in
terests involved are so vast that we
are not willing to break off negotia'
tions without first making further
effort to reconcile our differences.
We, therefore, propose that further
conference or conferences be held
between now and April 1.
IF this suggestion meets with
your approval, we shall be pleased to
arrange with you a date upon which
our joint committee may reconvene.
am yours truly,
JOHN MITCHELL, Chairman