The San Francisco call., 1906-04-07
Would Accept Terms
Submitted to An
thracite Men.
Mitchell and Executive
Committee Sur
prised.
Matter to Be Taken Up
at Indianapolis
Meeting.

NEW YORK, April 6.-Interest in the
labor troubles in the anthracite regions
was overshadowed today by the PROPOSE
ton that came out OF the West for the
arbitration OF the differences existing be-
tween the soft coal operators who have
not yet agreed TO the 1908 scale and the
miners. The offer Of the soft coal oper-
ators IS identical. word for word. except
where the term bituminous is substituted
for anthracite, which President Mitchell
presented 10 the hard coal operators here
yesterday. There was considerable spec
uIariou as 70 how the miners leader
would receive his own arbitration plan for
another field He was much interested IN
The news but maintained his usual ST.
lence when asked what he would do
Within an hour OF the receipt Of the offer
from !. H. Winder, the head of the Ohio
soft coal operators, he sent reply to the
effect that he had no power 10 act on the
proposition, but would submit il to the
international executive board OF the union
al its meeting in Indianapolis week after
next Mitchell was asked what he thought
OF Winder's literary ability. and he jok-
iuRIy replied that he aduEred IL very
much"
LEADERS ARE SURPRISED.
Leaders Of the Miners Union who were
At headquarters today did not think the
LnLETuaLlQl&A executive DldLA NCNA1 60 "a
the proposition A member Of the board
said conditions in the soft coal regions are
much different from those in the anthra-
cite field he pointed out that many op-
orators had already signed the 1903 scale
and that the number was increasing eacn
day.
Nothing developed in the anthracite sit
uation today 10 clearly indicate what the
outcome Of next Mondays meeting between
the szb-co-nmittees OF the mine owners
and the union leaders viii be.
There was no formal meeting OF the op-
erauoTs. bGt most Of them were IN COM
rnunicatiOn with one another II was re-
ported during the day that the arbitration
offer OF the miners would be fatty re-
fused. but II was denied by those in au-
rhority that z final decision had been
reached. It was also reported that the
operators may accept arbitration, but with
q different sort iof a tribunal.
Before leaving for his home in Hazeiton
today President W H. -1ettrey Of District
No. discussed the situation as II now
presents itself He said:
INEQUALITY or WAGES.
The presidents OF the coal carrying
railroads have for some time been quoting
the comments Of the strike commission
and UphoIding the awards OF that body.
and we now propose 70 arbitrate with
the agent which the commission created
the conciiaIion board The operators have
al along praised the work OF this board,
and I don't see how they can refuse To
have II arbitrate the differences that now
exist between the mine-workers and
themselves"
Dettrey charged that the operators did
not 1--we I'D 20 the award, and mentioned
instances where the wages OF some OF the
men were reduced in the face OF the COM
missions decisions.
He said: In only cases where a place
paid say 81 & day, the strike commission
awarded an increase OF 10 per cent. When
q mine worker left his place for any
reason his successor would be started n
at reduced wages. say s175. and then the