The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1906-03-15
LETS COAL MEN ALONE.
PRES DENT TAKING NO PART IN
NEGOTIATIONS BLTWEEN THE
MINERS AND OPERATORS.
HARDCOAL MEN REFUSE
Declare That They Cannot Accept Union
Demands-There Will Be No
Famine, They Add.

PITTSBURG. Pa. March 12.-Coal
miners of the Irwin district have pre-
pared for Il mass meeting tonight to act
on the recent discharge of eight union
men by the Pennsylvania Gas company
1t is expected that a district strike Will
be advised and that support from the
United workers is certain. There are
5000 and 10000 miners in this field Il
majority of them unorganzcd
President Taking No Part.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March IL
President Roosevelt is taking no part III
the pending negotiations between the
miners and operators to prevent coal
strike The statement was made at the
white house today that Prof. Charles IL.
Neil. commissioner of labor, did not con
fer with John Mitchell, president of the
mine workers, by authority OF the Tres
ident.
Will Do Nothing Further
Recently the President wrote an iden.
teal letter to President Mitchell ana
Mr.. Robbins of the operators, urging
Il further conference with a view to
avertng a coal strike. The negotiations
which followed We're the result OF that
letter. Since writing the letter. how
ever, the President has taken no step,
and ne at present has no action i'll con
temptation.
In this connection it was said also
that the President would depIorc great,
~ another strike of the coal miners and
would do all in his power which he
properly might do to avert Il strike, but
that he was doing nothing at this time
Hard Coal Men Reject Demands.
NEW YORK, March 12.-The anthra-
cite operators finally refused the de-
mands of the United Mineworkers, Sun
day. These demands included recogn'-
ton of the union, the closed shop, an
eight-hour day. higher wages and new
sliding scale. The operators offered 10
renew for three years the awards made
by the anthracite coal strike commission
three years ago. The mineworkers fac"
the alternative of surrender or strike.
No Coal Famine in Sight.
The new press bureau Of the anthracite
miners issues statement declaring that
there are great stores of coal ON hand,
and there will be neither coal famine,
nor high prices-at least not Ill New
York
President John Mitchell and leaders
left for home Immediately after receiving
the reply from the operators. lie re-
fused absolutely to discuss the situation.
Reasons for Refusing.
The demand of the miners that the
operators enter into an agreement with
the union is declined on the ground that
the anthracite operators stand unaltcr- /
ably for the open shop, and again decline !
To make an agreement with the United
Miueworkcrs of America, an organiza-
ton controlled by rival industry
OF the demand for an eight-hour day.
the statement says the operators know Of
no change in conditions that can be used
to sustain the renewed demand for re-
dUction in hours and declares that the
expectation of the strike committee that
the reduction from ten to nine hours
should not result in any decrease in the
output of the Mines" has not been real
lied and adds:
We might justly say that with the eX
pericnce of the last three years the ten
hour day should be restored; but we are
willing to abide by the decision of the
commission"
The proposition that n uniform scale of
wages be established is met by the oper
atorS with the reply that this would be
impractcable by reason of the varying
capacities of the workmcn and the vary
ing conditions.
I'VE cannot increase wages without
advancing the price of coal; and we are
not willing TO advance the price of coal /
Other Demands Refused.
The request that the operators shall
collect from each cmployc certain stated
sums for the support of the mineworkers'
union is denied on the ground that "aS
Il matter of policy we would not make
such an agreement as YOU request, and. /
as Il matter of law, we are not permitted
to make ii.
The operators decline to agree to any
change in the board of Cancellation, "a
established by the anthracite coal strike
commission, taking the ground that the
system proposed 10y the miners would
simply involve more delay than now
exists.
The complaint of the miners that the
board of Cancellation does not act prompt
ly the operators declare to be not war
rantcd by the facts. The demand for Il
new sliding wage scale is denied on the
ground that the sliding scale fixed by the
anthracite coal strike commission covers
practically all the propositions in the pro-
posed new scale.
Hoped for Adjustment.
In conclusion. the statement says: 1T
had been our hope, and. we trusted. the
public expectation rs well, that the effect
of the exhaustive investigation and find
mgS of the anthracite strike commission
would be to establish just and perma
nent adjustment of the relations between
the operators and their employees
--~--
OAklkInT TNOAnr THAI