The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-05-07
WILL BE NO STRIKE
Of THE HARD COAL men
The Thres-year Agreement Signed
at PHILADELPHIA.

Philadelphia Especially Peace be-
tween the mineworkers and operators
In the anthracite coal regions of
Pennsylvania is assured for another
period of three years. The agree
ment, continuing in force until March
81, 1912, the awards of the anthra-
cite coal strike commission, was sign
ed in the board room of the Reading
Company here by the committee of
seven on behalf of the mineowners
and similar committee represent
ing the workers. With the exception
of five added stipulations suggested
by the miners, the agreement is iden-
t1cal with the one signed in New York
three years ago. The mineworkers
union is not officially recognized, the
members of the miners committee
simply signing the agreement ION be-
half of the representative anthracite
mineworkers." The conference was
harmonious affair and ended with
everybody happy" as one of the
committeeman expressed it.
Before proceeding to the signing
OF the agreement, resolution Offer
ed by L. F. Loree, president of the
Delaware and Hudson Company, was
unanimously passed directing the sec
retaries of the conference to send a
message of sympathy to T. L. Lewis,
national president of the miners
union, on the death of his brother.
Good Understanding.
Following the conference E. S. Nc
Cullough, national vice president of
the union, who represented Mr..
Leads, said the concessions made by
the operators were not as great in
pecuniary value as they were in
moral effect. The agreement shows,
he said, that the anthracite operators
and mineworkers have a better I'M
derstanding of one another.
The following statement was is
sued after the meeting by the opera
tors committee of seven:
"The operators are gratified that
peace and quiet are assured in the
anthracite regions for the next three
years. The agreement signed ex-
tends the award of the strike COM
mission of 1902 until March 81. 1912,
and contains, besides, five stipula-
lions added at the request of the
mineworkers' representatives.
The provision regarding new
work is the one to which the opera
tors agreed when they met the mine
workers committee in Philadelphia
on April 8.
"The arrangement for the posting
of notices and the collection of dues
on the companies property was made
in the spring of 1906, and is now in
corporated in the agreement. This
has not been matter of dispute in
the conferences of the last few
weeks.
Settling Grievances.
''The third additional stipulation,
referring to the discharge of en-
ployes,. is contained in the award of
the strike commission and has been
in force for six years, but it is added
to the agreement at the request of
the representatives of the minework-
ers.
1.-THE understanding that an at
tempt shall he made to settle all
grievances directly before an appeal
to the Cancellation Board is in line
with what the operators have always
desired. They are quite willing to
have this definitely stated in the
agreement, though they consider that
it comes within the general agree
ment extending the award of the
commission.
The arrangement for more explic-
it pay statements is made because
the mineworkers' representatives
claim that at some collieries confu-
sion to the man has resulted from
incomplete statements