The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-02-23
Mitchell Regulates Alleged
Utterances In Pittsburg.
DEMANDS READY SOON.
Miners In 1908 Got About Half Things
Demanded in 1902, and Now Want
Remainder After Expiration Of
Working Agreement.

New York, Feb. 23.--John Mitchell,
the president OF tile United Mine Work
ers of America, arrived here yesterday
from Pittsburg. lie said that the re-
ports Of his utterances in that city were
altogether misleading.
Il never told anybody that thought
there would be strike in some districts
and not in Others he said. Il uniform.
Iy continued to say in Pittsbug what
l have been saying her in New York
that | am not in position to discuss
the situation in any way"
Ii is expected that the demands of
the miners will be completely formulated
today and be submitted to the operators.
Mr.. Mitchell was in conference with the
subcommittee at the Ashland House
yesterday.
The Strikes of 1900 and 1902.
AS a result of the great coal strike
Of 1000, the wages Of nearly every class
of laborers in the coal mines in this
country were advanced 10 per cent. But
the miners did mot then get all they
wanted in the way of improved condi-
tons, and from the time of the settle.
ment of 1000 TO 1902, when the miners
went on strike again, there was more IT.
ration in the mining districts than at
any other time for the previous TWEEN
ty-iiye years.
In October, 1902, the president APP.
pointed the following commission Of sew
en- to act as an arbitration board;
George Gray, Carroll D. Wright, John
NJ Wilson, John j.. Spalding, Edgar u.
Clark, Thomas H. Watkins and Edward
vs.. Parker. The selection OF these men
as board to hear the grievances of the
miners was satisfactory to the miners
themselves and to the operators, and
the miners went back to work on Novcm.
Der /, 1902, with theu understanding that
il the arbitrators found that the workers
were entitled to any increase of pay
the Increase should date back to Novem-
Der /, 1909, with the understanding that
winter in an exhaustive inquiry into the
alleged grievances Of the miners, the
reports Of assaults upon non-union men,
the dynamiting of the houses OF unof-
tending women and children, the an
thracite coal commission made public its
findings on March 81, 1908. There were
four questions Of Importance at issue
An advance Of wages, an eight.hour day,
payment by weight for coal mined. and
recognition of the union. the Mine
Workers Of America. The award 81
the commission was compromise. The
miners bad demanded 20 per cent in
crease Of wages, but the commission
gave them an advance of 10 per cent.
The miners, who work only six hours,
wanted an eight hour day for the "out.
side men" but the commission gave them
only q niue-hour day. The commission
rejected the demand OF the union miners
for a recognition Of their union, and ii
also rejected the demand that the min.
ers be paid by the weight OF the coal
mined. But as the strikers had preyi.
ously agreed to abide by the decision
OF tho commission, and as they had Sc.
cured about half what they had asked
for in the matter of increased pay and
lessened hours, the great majority Of
them were glad to be assured OF steady
work under the more favorable eondi.
tions.