Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-07

~. dIlloli, way W. IN VII 49, 49,
Of President Mitchell. representing the
sub-scale committee, the miners con-
vention yesterday unanimously voted
TO adopt the first proposition of the OPP
eratcrs, a continuation of the award Of
the anthracite coal commission, with
the modification that the term for
which il is expected to continue shall
be mutually agreed upon. The opera
tors suggestion was that it should be
at least three years.
The action Of the convention, t0getE-
er with z request for a conference on
Monday was autographed by President
Mitchell to Chairman George +. Baer
of the operators committee, and an
answer was received agreeing to con-
ference at o'clock Monday afternoon
at the Jersey Central offices in New
York City.
The only matters to be discussed ut
the conference are the length of time
the award shall continue and the pro-
visions that there shall be no discrim-
nation against the men who obeycd
the Mine Workers suspension order
1t il practically certain that the OPP
er2tors will not accede To any sugges-
that would throw the next conference
into a Presidential year, and as the
miners will not want long-term
agreement. the chances are that 4
thre"-vear agreement will be eventual
ly enter upon.
in intimation has reached here from
President I:aer that the ops ralorS will
not discriminate against the miners
row on suspension ana the coal repre-
SOMETIMES Of the coal companies say
the same thing. 1t looks. therefore. as
If strike has been avcrtcd and that
the miners will return to work. prGEa
bly, Monday, May IA.
In his address to tho convention in
pres ,ntng the report If the scale com
mission, Mr.. Mitchell said:
81 am in favor of raising the low
paid non to the standard oI the high
paid nm During the six or seven
y";.rs that | have been in the move
Ment in the anthracite region. | have
| learned tn know much about conditions
here. | want to assure ynu thar | am
not at all pleased with the wages or
| conditions. believe they should
| b. Improved.
"in onsidering the policy Of the or
ganizntion we must first consider its
possibilities If | were sure Il strik"
would hp successful. that YOU could
win. that YOU would stand together.
| would advise YOU to strike and stay
| away from the mines until We got bet
| ter conditions.
| "nut from the information | have re
| ceived from all parts Of the region |
am fearful that our people are not in
| shape for Il strike.
| 81 know that there are many among
| us who are not in sympathy with Il
| strike movement. We must retain what
| we have rather than lose what we have
gained III the last two strikes.
an deciding this question. may l
| ask YOU to do it without passion or
| sentiment, but with due regard to
what is best now Whatever your deci-
| sion is, whether il be strike. or wheth-
| er IL be work. | ask YOU TO stand to-
| gether, accepting without reservation
| the conclusion of the majority"
| At the close of the convention, Mr..
! Mitch ell made the following state
ment:
| For several months we have been
| endeaVorng to negotiate a wage scale
and adjustment of conditions of en-
| rloymcnt with the representatives of
| the anthracite coal mining companies.
| During these negotiations we made a
| number of propositions each of which
| materially modified our original de-
| mands We did this, not because we
| were convinced that our original prop
| ositions were unfair or wrong, but
| purely for the purpose of finding a
| common ground upon which we could
| reach an agreement that would secure
ard maintain peace in the anthracite
| coal industry We still believe that our
| first proposition was reasonably fair.
Notwithstanding the notifications we
have since made in the interest of
peace and now we are face to face with
| the alternative of continuing at work
| under our former conditions and de-
| claring a strike. In this crisis your
| committee recommended the follow
| ing policy:
| First. that we agree to work on the
| basis of the award of the anthracite
coal strike commission for such a peri
Cd of time as may be agreed upon mu-
rualIy between the representatives OF
the anthracite coal mining companies
and our scale committee. provided that
all men who suspended work on April
list or since that time or who have beer
dismissed because they said that they