Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-05-03
strik, Said to be Inevitable.

situation. 1t seeems that there is no
way out of a strike unless the mine
workers back down, aud all of the dele
gates who are pouring into town are
very far from favoring anthing closely
approaching a backdown. Yesterday
afternoon Mitchell met with the mem
bers OF the jOidt scale committee and
presented for their consideration a copy
Of the committee report which he had
been preparing for some days. The
meeting was largely formal, though it
lasted for three hours. The report was
approved 10 its intirety. The members
Of the Joint scale committee were out
spoken last night 10 favOring strike.
They say that there is no other course
left open to the organization now that
the operators have given their ultima
lum. They report marked change OF
sentiment throughout the entire region
during the past few days, and particu-
larly since the clash between the State
constabulary and the mineworkers at
Mount Carmel on Monday. Strike talk
is in the air on all sides.
Anticipating the convention OF miners
whjc@ -saef at S--enion Pa, today, the
anthracite coal operators have issued a
statement outlining their view of the
negotiations in the anthracite field up to
date. The object Of the statement, ac-
cording to its introductory paragraph, is
Ito prevent misunderstanding OF the
situation which has led to the cOnven-
ton of miners at Scranton" 1t de-
cIares that in the summer of 1905 the
leaders of the United MinewOrkers found
their organization rapidly dwindling;
that having obtained large wage in
crease as result of the arbitration award
of the commission appointed by Presi-
dent Roosevelt in 1902, the men ap-
parenlly saw no reason to continue to
pay union dues. 1t adds that on June
last the total union membership
was 3S, $40 out of some 40, 900 EN-
ployes. President Mitchell's tour Of
the districts, which, the statement
says, resulted in increasing the union
membership to 0,4S7, is reviewed,
aud portions OF some Of the miners
leaders addresses are quoted. "Back
ed by the result of this campaign, "
The statement continues, ''and dis
regarding ..ssS TACT that the anthracite
Commission had settled the fundamental
principles which should govern the rela-
tions betS the operators and their em-
ployes, the miners representatives came
forward on March lst with an extraor-
dinary list of new demands. The opera:
tors took the position which they have
consistently maintainedsiuce, that on all
questions which had been definitely set
tied bv the coal commission lis findings
should be continued" Then, the state
ment declares, there began the playing
of one industry against another. Mr..
Mitchell went to Indianapolis and with
the suggestion that strike might be
called in the anthracite fields demanded
large wage increase from the bitumin-
Gus operators. The statement con-
cludes: "Failing with the btumin-
Gus operators Mr.. Mitchell now
made a further effort to obtain his
wants from the anthracite operators. His
last demand was for limited wage in
crease. This is precisely the question
which the operators proposed to arbl-
trale. But the fear that fair arbitra-
ton might not repay the men the union
dues which they were so urgently im.
pressed to pay, in order to get more,
apparently prevents arbitration. The
situation now before the people is a
most serious one. Every claim of the
miners was duly considered by the coal
commission appointed by President
Roosevelt The position of the ope-
rators in 1906 is precisely in accord
with the letter and spirit of the commits
sion's findings. That commission was
universally recognized as able and i'm
partial. President Roosevelt, in ap-
pointing its members, specifically in
structed them to 'en1eavor to establish
the relations between the employers and
the wage-workers in the anthracite fields
on just and permanent basis. The
operators accept the commissions de
cision as having permanent effect, ex
cep' in so far as subsequent events have
possibly modified actual conditions
These possibilities the operators agreed
to submit to the same impartial trib
unal.''
Governor Pennypacker, OF Pennsyl
yania, yesterday issued proclamation
in reference to the industrial disturb
ances in Pennsylvania, in which he call
upon all citizens to assist in the main
tenance of the law aud declares that vic
lence will not be tolerated. The gover
nor, in his proclamation, calls upon 'al
citizens by their conduct, example an
utterances, whether printed or verbal, t
assist in the maintenance of the law.
Continuing, the proclamation says
sTimes of commOtion furnish the test {
! essacity of the people for self-goverr
mems Every man is entitled to labc
and get far his labor the highest con
peusation he can lawfully secure. TheI
. is no law to compel him TO labor unls'
he so chooses, and he may cease to labC
whenever he considers it 10 be to b
, interest so to cease. The labOring maj
out of whose efforts wealth arises, hi
> the sympathy of all disiuterested peop
in his lawful struggles to secure larg'
proportion of the profit which result
= from his labor. What he earns belong
to him and if he invests his earnings Il
law protects his property just as Il
N rights of prOpTty of ALI men must