Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-04-13
CHOICE OFFERED
The Operators Of Two
Propositions by Miners.
Strong Intimation That Neither
Of Them Will Be Accepted.
II Both Are Rejected The Strike Will
Then Start Full Blast.

| OF the Sub-comrnittceS of the anthra-
cite mine workers and operators here
| today the representatives, of the en-
| plOyes offered the owners the choice of
two propositions in their endeavor to
come to an amicable agreement, and
the employers made an informal reply
in which they intimated that they are
not likely to accept either. The opera
tors will make an official answer to the
| miners latest proposition by letter. and
there will be no further meetings until
something develops. While there is still
hope that a peaceful solution of the
controversy will be found, the meeting
today did not bring the contending
parties closer together and in fact they
appeared to have almost reached the
limit of their negotiations. If the oper-
ators should decline TO entertain eth
er Of the propositions submitted by the
miners today it is probable conven-
tion of miners will be called at which
the delegates will declare that a strike
exists.
Briefly stated, the offer made by
President Mitchell today was a resub-
mission of the miners original de-
mands with two amendments and in
case they are not accepted he proposes
that the whole controversy be placed
before the strike commission
In one Of the amendments to the
original demands President Mitchell
drops the request for the recognition of
the union and provides that the pro-
posed agreement be made between op-
orators and the anthracite mine work.
ers instead Of the United Mine Work
erS of America. The other amendment
provides that only employees who are
willing shall be assessed a certain sum
each month to defray the expenses of
carrying out the proposed check-otf
agreement instead Of union and ron
union men being called upon to con-
tribute. If the operators Will not accept
the original demands as amended, the
miners propose that the original de-
mandS as amended and the operators
first proposition, which provides for
renewal for three years of the award
Of the anthracite strike commission, be
referred for arbitration to the strike
commission. Thus the miners drop their
second offer which provides for arbi-
tration by the conciliation board and
ton with the exception Of the strike
commission feature which they accept.
After President Mitchell. as chairman
of the miners subcommittee had fin
ished reading the answer. the opera
tors withdrew and discussed the COM
munication for about 10 minutes. Upon
their return. President Baer as chair
lran of the operators committee, made
this reply:
I'VE regret that you have not accept
ed our propositions. We do not feel that
we can modify them. We will hereafter
answer your communication of this
date by letter, or if you desire fur
ther meeting. the time can be arranged
or be hereafter fixed by the respective
chairmen.
Then an informal talk followed dur
ing which it was agreed that if any
further meeting of the joint committee
was desired by the miners, arrange
ments for it could be made by Presi
dents Baer and Mitchell.
After the conference had adjourned
none of the participants would dis
cuss the developments of the meet
ing except President Truesdale, of the
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
Railroad.
President Truesdale of the Lacka-
wanna Railroad was asked to explain
Chairman Baer'S brief statement. He
said that it could be accepted as mean
ing that the operators stand absolute
ly by their counter proposition sub
mitted on Tuesday. AS the situation
stands now. Mr.. Truesdale thought, II
was not too much to say that nego-
tiations between the operators and the
miners had practically been suspend
ed. The operators will take up the
miners proposition of today. however,
and make formal reply early in the
coming week.
At headquarters after the meeting,
President Mitchell confirmed the in
depreciation that the first amendment
to his original demands eliminates the
request for the recognition his
union.
The general scale committee of the
miners held brief session late in the
afternoon and after the adjournment
they left for home to await develop
ments and look after the affairs of the
organization. 1t is probable the men,
bers of the general committee will ad-
dress the miners in their local unions.
giving them report of the progress
of the negotiations.
1t is said the operators will wait un-
til after next Tuesday when the in
ternational executive board of the
miners unions meets at Indianapolis
before making a reply in order to learn
what action the board will take with
regard to the proposition made by the
bituminous operators of Ohio to arbi-
trate the matters in dispute between
them and the striking miners in that
state.