Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1906-03-12

STICK TOTHE
OPEN SHOP
FIatIy Refuse All Demands
Of Mine Workers.
ANTHRACITE BAR0NS DECLINE
TO READJUST WAGE SCALE
Can See No Excuse for Eight Hour
Day--Want to Continue Present
Status Three Years,

New York. Mar. 1.-THE PROPOSE
tion of the United Mine Workers of
America for rcadjustment of wages
and conditions In the anthracite coal
fields, as II whole. has been denied by
the committee representing the an-
thraCitc operators. As counter
proposition the operators suggest that
the awards made by the anthracite
coal strike commission. the princi-
pies upon which they are established
by the commission and the methods
established for carrying out their
findings and awards. shall he contin-
ucd for further term of three years
from the first day of April, 1906. The
present agreement terminates March
81 of this year
Announcement of the anthracite
operators decision and their counter
proposition was made tonight in
| long formal statement which was
given out for publication. The state
ment, which includes the corresponds
ence on the subjects at issue between
President John Mitchell of the United
Mine Workers, acting for the miners,
and George f. Baer president of the
| Philadelphia q Reading Coal q Iron
company for the operators, discusses
the miners proposition in detail. In
every instance the contention is made
| by the operators either that conditions
/ In the coal fields do not warrant the
! change proposed by the miners, or
! that the questions at issue already
| have been passed upon by the strike
! commission.
Decline TO Enter Agreement
The, demand OF the mjpecs shat the
| operators enter into an agreement
with the union is declined on the
ground that the anthracite operators
stand unalterably for the open shop,
and again decline to make an agree
/ of America, an organization controll-
! ed by a rival industry"
or the demand for an eight-hdur
! day. the statement says the operators
/ know of no change i'm conditions that
! can be used TO sustain the renewed
1 demand for q reduction In hours; de-
/ clares that the expectation of the
I strike committee that the reduction
/ from ten to nine hours should not re-
/ suit IN any decrease of the output If
/ the mines. has not been realized. and
adds
we might justly say that with the
experience of the past three years the
ten-hour day should he restored but
We are willing to abide by the decision
| of the commission
The proposition that uniform
scale of wages be established I'm the
anthracite fields Is met by the opera
tors with the reply that this would be
] INN % ir1 ~ ar rN-
/ ing capacities of the workmen and the
varying conditions existing in the re-
! gion and at the collieries.
We cannot Increase wages with
out advancing the price Of coal, and
we are not willing to advance the
price of coal" is the reply to the de-
mand for a general increase I'm wages,
Miners Disappointed.
Shamokin. Pa. Mar. 1.-THE news
received here today that the anthra-
cite coal companies would not grant a
| single demand of the United Mine
| Workers caused surprise and disap-
| pointment.
Many of the miners declare they
will quit work April | unless they re-
ceive concessions.
Mitchell Is Anxious.
Philadelphia, Pa Mar. 1t-Charles
! p, Neill, United States commissioners
Of labor and President John Mitchell,
Of the miners union, held a confer
once here today. Neither Neill nor
/ Mitchell would disclose the nature Of
/ their conference. Mitchell saying II
would not be wise to do so at this
/ time. 1t Is believed. however. Neil
came here to see Mitchell at the in
stance of President Roosevelt. Neith-
er Mitchell nor Neill made any Sec
rets of their belief that the situation
in the anthracite region is grave.