Milford chronicle., 1906-04-27
idle MINERS "a
LOSE NOTHING
Would be Working Half Time Had
Suspension Not Been Ordered.
MITCHELL AT wILKES.BARRE

MITCHELL AT WILKES.BARR
Wilkes-Barre. Pa, April 25.-Jol
Mitchell, national president of Il
United Mine Workers of AmeRsaa, a
rived here. He was met at the st
tion by District Presidents Nicholl
Fahy and Dettrey, also Rev. Faith
Curran and National Board Memb
John Fallon and a delegation of mil
workers numbering 100 or more. M
Mitchell was accompanied by his pr
vate secretary. He at once went
the Hotel Hart where he has open'
his headquarters, and 1t is expected
will remain in this city for some tim
When asked If he had anything
say on the situation, he replied: "Pea'
is always desirable that would be IA
to the mine owners and miners"
Mr.. Mitchell. commenting on Il
statement made by the operators, sal
it was not founded on the facts in Il
case. He stated that on the 18th {
last December he sent a letter to ii
presidents of the anthracite coal ca
rying railroads asking for a confer
ence at any time between that dai
and January II. and the operators r
piled that they were very busy at thi
time. Il have no doubt they were
ontinued Mr. Mitchell, "as Decembe
and January finds the executive head
of the railroads with all the bushes
they can attend to, but still do nc
see how any blame can be attached
me for their failure to hold a confeI
ence at the early period stated, an
even If I were in the west, negotil
tions could be carried on with u
scale committee, which had full .poT
to act" ,> AS
Speaking of the general situa1
Mr.. Mitchell remarked: 80 far n
mine owners and the miners have
nothing by the suspension. Had y
suspension been ordered, the min1y
would have been idle probably thu
or four days a week. Under ordina
conditions, the coal they should y,
mining now they mined before pol
and they were paid for ; {
and the same with the operators. TIL
have the coal and can supply =
trade. If there has been any advar
in the price it is not the fault Of
the blame must be with
men who owned the coal stocked,
the dealers. I understand, howeV
prices for coal have been increased, I
there is no cause for it. The 30 ce
reduction yearly made in April I
not been made this year, and I furtl
understand prices have been increas
n other directions. This is uncal
or; there should not be one cent
.rease. There has been no DESERT
rom our ranks and I look for none
Mr.. Mitchell then said he was
lble to say at this time whether or . s,
urther correspondence would be opt +
d with the operators before the meet.
ng of the miners convention.
Among the members of the mine
Forkers' scale committee there is 6
ecided sentiment in favor of avoid.
ng strike at all hazards, chiefly be-
ause it Is felt that the union will have
most difficult task to win, and that
efeat would mean the destruction ol
be organization in the anthracite
eld.
Some Of the leaders argue that the
perators are so well prepared for g
trike that they are eager for it, and
nat this eagerness is convincing proof
nat they feel certain Of victory. The
irge amount Of coal which they have
4 hand gives the operators, these meg
~, a decided advantage which they
ID not have during the 1902 strike,
nd it is admitted that it will T6quiE
least an eight months strike fds
10 union TO win.
The district officers Of the union do.
are that the reports now being cir.
Hated by the operators regarding the
Of mines and washeries arG
ade for the sake Of influencing thG
ine workers, and that the suspension
just as tight as when it was first or.
red. The work being done, these
5cers say, is done by petty bosses
ID clerks. with a few imported work.
s.