Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-05-08
AWARD IS CONTINUED
Anthracite Coal Miners and Operator,
Finally Come to an Agreement,
SCALE is EXTENDED FOR THREE YEARS
Contract is First One Ever Made with the
Union.
FINAL STRUGGLE IN CONFERENCE
Committee Argued for Two Year Limit to
Agreement
ATTITIInF nr ,z,...
STRUGGLE IN CONFERENCE
ATTITUDE OF PRESIDENT John MITCHELL
Miners Leader Has Been Opposed to
strike from the Beginning of the
NeEOtiations - Operators
Well Pleased.


NEW YORK, May After carrying on
| negotiations FOR nearly three months the
subcommittee representing the anthracite
mine workers and operators Of eastern
! Pennsylvania today agreed TO continue the
award of the strike commission for another
! three years, until March 81. 1909 and
| the men will return TO work as soon as
practicable, probably Monday.
All miners who have not committed vio-
lence against persons property will be
re-employed and no one will be discrin,-
| mated against because Of any activity he
may have taken in the strike movement
! The agreement is subject to the ratification
| of the tri-dlstrict convention Of mine work
! ers at Scranton tomorrow, but there is
not the slightest doubt that the delegates
/ will approve the action of their represent
atlves.
This outcome Of dispute, which threat
| ened to develop into long, bitter struggle
and paralyze great industry, was looked
upon with considerable satisfaction by the
coal road presidents as the agreement en-
tered into is their first proposition made
early in March in reply to the mine work
! ers' original demands.
The miners had little to say today re-
garding the agreement, except that Il was
the best they could get. They pointed out,
however, that the agreement entered into
is the first general agreement that has ever
been signed between the operators and
miners, and they look upon It as step
forward in their endeavor to have regular
agreements with their employers.
Final Struggle In Conference.
! While the compact entered into today
was predicted last week. the agreement
was not reached without a final struggle
on the part of the miners to get something
more. President Mitchell, in stating to
! the operators the action of the Scranton
convention, asked that the proposed agree
ment be made for two years In arguing
for the two-year term he said the cost
of living might increase considerably in
three years and that other changes in the
mining industry might come that would
make the present wage scale unfair to the
men. The operators in their reply said
they felt that any contingency that might
arise was covered by the award of the
strike commission and they concluded by
asking that the award be continued for
three years. This was then agreed to.
In taking up the question OF discrimina-
tion against some of the men, it the
intention of the mine owners TO take back
only such men they chose to re-empoly
but President Mitchell contested this point
so strongly that the operators withdrew It.
Todays session was the longest Of the
series, lasting nearly two hours.
The district president left for Scranton
this evening. President Mitchell will go
later reaching that city I'm time to preside
over the convention No date has been
officially set for the resumption of work.
It was thought that Thursday would be
selected, but some of the mines are not
in good condition for an immediate resump-
tion the beginning of operations may be de-
layed until Monday. This is the sixth week
] tI,o Ice. {,,
production of about 100000 tons.
Convention VIII Approve Contract.
SCRANTON, Pa, May 7.-Tomorrows ad-
journed session of the anthracite tridistrict
mine workers convention promises to he
quite formal and uninteresting There is
no question but that the agreement which
was today signed in New York by the ope-
ra.ors and the members of the sub-scale
committee providing for three years
continuance of the strike commissions
award and no discrimina lion will be ap-
proved by the delegates unanimously.
There was a noticeable letup I'm operations
today on the part OF the companies which
have been the most aggressive since the
suspension began In the importing Of men
and the operation of collieries and wash
cries with them.
Arrangements are already being made by
the Delaware & Hudson and the Erie COM
panies for the shipping back of the i'm
ported men and Il is expected they will all
be out OF the field by Monday next when
resumption Of work will probably be or
derod.
Among the English speaking miners no
signs OF dissatisfaction are shown and no
, criticism Of John Mitchell is heard, the
men apparently being convinced that their
leaders have shown them the best way out
OF a bad dilemma
Many foreign members, however. are
plninly dissatisfied. Il is freely predicted
that many foreign members will desert the
! organization.
Mitchell Opposed strike.
II was learned today on indusputable
; thority that John Mitchell was opposed TO q
I strike from the very outset. He was OPP
posed to f as matter of eXpediency
though he is known TO have felt that it
D would be almost justified as a matter OF
principle.
While the convention was talking strike
and when 1t was felt all sides that
, bitter contest was unavoidable, Mr. Mitchell
: was quietly gathering information through
trusty Heutenants having no connection
with the organization from the operators
camp. He was finding out whether or not
there would be any discrimination in case
: of resumption and was securing accurate
information concerning the exact output OF
coal since the suspension went into effect
The extensive operations which have been
carried on by the big companies and the
d constantly increased output are said 10 have
4 had great influence with Mr.. Mitchell. as
well as a constantly growing conviction
that the operators were ready to night out
the contest 10 the end
I price OF Coal Redaced.
{ NEW YORK. May IA reduction of 40
cents ton IN all except the steam szes
K Of anthracite coal was announced today By
4 the Lehigh Valley Railroad company. The
r reduction is customary az this time OF the
, ycar and IL Is understood that the Reading
4 company will take similar action to-
morrow.